Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

Contributor

Mark Huber

EASA has granted certification approval for Honeywell’s Primus Epic Phase 8 software and EGPWS with offshore modes, and Leonardo will offer the new software in the AW139 intermediate twin. Phase 8 features an advanced synthetic vision system (SVS) tailored to helicopter operations and improved 2D maps and wireless data loading.&nbsp;

 


The advanced SVS assists with navigation and landing approaches to challenging terrain and oil rigs via 3D presentation of the external environment, including surrounding terrain, obstacles, runways, and helipads within the background of the primary flight display (PFD). A 2D interactive navigation (INAV) feature displays the helicopter’s position and flight plan on the multifunction&nbsp;display, enabling navigation system alignment with the actual flight path, adjusted for environmental factors.

 


The custom approach function offers the capability to design, set, and fly an automated approach to any user-defined location, including oil rig helidecks. Embedded wireless connectivity provides high-speed data access for flight plan transfer and maintenance data capture from the aircraft. The new EGPWS version -036, also available for Phase 7,&nbsp;is a more sophisticated helicopter TAWS optimized for use in offshore environments and designed to provide&nbsp;more warning lead time of potential collisions.&nbsp;

 


Honeywell Epic Phase 8 is one of more than 1,000 kits available for the AW139. Leonardo has received nearly 1,200 orders for the helicopter and more than 1,050 operate&nbsp;in some 70 countries.

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

Leonardo AW139 Gets Honeywell Primus Epic Upgrade 

The new Honeywell Primus Epic Phase 8 software will be available in the Leonardo AW139 intermediate twin.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Hanneke Weitering

Embraer 170 flew from Seattle to Alaska and back without GPS

Honeywell Tests Magnetic Navigation in GPS-free Flight

Matt Thurber

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Billund, Denmark-based company will also offer dealer coordination for European customers

Scandinavian Avionics To Support Legacy Nighthawk Systems

Curt Epstein

AIN readers rate avionics, cabin management, and airborne connectivity manufacturers

AIN Product Support Survey 2026: Avionics

Kerry Lynch

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Experts gather to discuss the problems and solutions surrounding GNSS interference

AIN Roundtable—Readying for Potential Navigation Spoofing, Jamming

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Product enables aircraft to work together with no need for satcom or cellular communications

Ciconia C&CAS Demos Coordination, Collision Avoidance

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

New release adds missed approach climb gradient table and climb gradient values on departure procedures

Garmin Expands SmartCharts Reach to Canada and Mexico

Charles Alcock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

In this article

Leonardo AW139

Leonardo

More In Avionics

Honeywell Tests Magnetic Navigation in GPS-free Flight

Embraer 170 flew from Seattle to Alaska and back without GPS

Scandinavian Avionics To Support Legacy Nighthawk Systems

Billund, Denmark-based company will also offer dealer coordination for European customers

AIN Product Support Survey 2026: Avionics

AIN readers rate avionics, cabin management, and airborne connectivity manufacturers

AIN Roundtable—Readying for Potential Navigation Spoofing, Jamming

Experts gather to discuss the problems and solutions surrounding GNSS interference

Ciconia C&CAS Demos Coordination, Collision Avoidance

Product enables aircraft to work together with no need for satcom or cellular communications

Garmin Expands SmartCharts Reach to Canada and Mexico

New release adds missed approach climb gradient table and climb gradient values on departure procedures

Autoland-equipped Phenom 300EV Gets Trio of Approvals

Light jet now approved by Brazilian, U.S., and European regulators

Klatt Works Adds Gulfstream as Approved SAVED Supplier

Expands availability of company's oxygen-mask head-up display system

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN