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

Thales and StandardAero have developed a compact four-axis autopilot for the Airbus AS350/H125 AStar family of turbine single helicopters and conducted a successful first test flight. The companies anticipate FAA STC approval by mid-2021. Flight testing will continue throughout the next several months&nbsp;at StandardAero’s Langley, British Columbia, Canada facility.&nbsp;Earlier this year, StandardAero/Thales announced that Airbus helicopter operator WeatherTech, the automotive accessories company, is the launch customer.&nbsp;

 


The autopilot is an intuitive automatic flight control system that provides stability augmentation, attitude retention, and flight director modes such as altitude or heading hold. “We aim to bring a user-friendly solution offering an unparalleled level of safety and reliability to the light helicopter market," said Jean-Paul Ebanga, Thales vice president of flight avionics activities. “This product combines Thales’s Autopilot experience, based on billions of flight hours accumulated and outstanding customer satisfaction, with StandardAero’s extensive aftermarket capabilities in aircraft modification and certification.”

 


“This state-of-the-art, four-axis autopilot system has been designed as a straightforward retrofit and provides pilots with simplified operation that will help reduce wear and tear on the helicopter while making flying in normal and adverse conditions much easier and safer for the crew and passengers,” said Elvis Moniz, StandardAero vice president of product development for helicopters.&nbsp;

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

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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.

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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.

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