Avionics
Primus Epic outfitted for SAR duty
Honeywell engineers are developing for the AgustaWestland AW139 medium twin a software upgrade that optimizes the helicopter’s Primus Epic avionics system

Honeywell engineers are developing for the AgustaWestland AW139 medium twin a software upgrade that optimizes the helicopter’s Primus Epic avionics system for the rigors of search-and-rescue operations.

Phase 5 features that recently underwent flight testing at Honeywell in Phoenix included automated search patterns, automatic radar altitude hover, a “fly-up” safety limiter and other autopilot functions intended to ease workload and enhance safety for AW139 crews performing SAR missions in demanding environments. The radar altitude hover function, for example, will allow the AW139 to hover automatically in rough seas with wave heights of 20 feet, while the safety limiter will automatically climb away from bigger waves. The Phase 5 upgrade will also add a winchman trim feature that lets the hoist operator maneuver the helicopter from the cabin.