27 February 2018
Avidyne has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) approval of its IFD Series of FMS/GPS/NAV/COM avionics systems for installation in Robinson Helicopters, including R66, R44 and R22.
“Robinson is the world’s leading manufacturer of civil helicopters, and we have found that there is a huge pent up demand for the unique features we offer with our IFD series,” said Avidyne CEO Dan Schwinn.
“Avidyne has been a world leader in active traffic systems in helicopters with our TAS600 series, and now this STC marks the first of many upgrade and forward-fit programs we are working on to bring the powerful capabilities of the Avidyne IFD products to the helicopter market.”
The STC covers the IFD540 and IFD440 FMS/GPS/NAV/COMs as well as the IFD510 and IFD410 FMS/GPS standalone navigators, and allows for slide-in-replacement installations in Robinson helicopters that currently have legacy GNS navigators. This STC also covers green installations.
Helicopter operators who upgrade to the IFDs will also have the ability to add an IFD100, an iPad-based version of the panel-mounted IFDs that communicates via wireless and provides independent, large-screen display and control of the panel-mounted system.
