For a close-up look at what tomorrow’s helicopter cockpits might look like, stop by the Thales booth (No. 1202) to see the company’s Avionics 2020 cockpit of the future. This version is Thales’s third iteration of its Avionics 2020 concept; earlier helicopter versions were unveiled at last year’s Paris Air Show and at the NBAA Convention. “This is a new generation,” said Thales head of helicopter avionics Yves Joannic, “based on an evolution of the technology.” At the Thales Heli-Expo display, visitors can sit in the Avionics 2020 cockpit and interact with the avionics and learn exactly how it works.
The philosophical underpinning of Avionics 2020 is to help pilots do more while reducing their workload. “More and more the helicopters manufacturers are putting in place many functionalities that are interfacing with the pilot,” he explained. “The workload is increasing,” and manufacturers just keep adding features. “Avionics have to decrease the workload, in order for the pilot to concentrate on the mission.”
