AVIDYNE ANNOUNCES FAA TSO APPROVAL OF HELIOS™ MULTIFUNCTION FLIGHT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR HELICOPTERS

Avidyne Helios ‘multi-function FMS’ is designed to meet the rigorous demands of rotorcraft operators for corporate, military and special-mission operations, TSO approval clears the way for MROs to begin field-approved installations and STC programs.

Melbourne, Florida – May 18, 2021–– Avidyne Corporation, a leading provider of integrated avionics systems, displays, and safety systems for general aviation, business aircraft, and helicopters, announced receipt of Technical Standard Order (TSO) approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for their dzus-mounted Avidyne Helios™ multifunction flight management system (FMS) for Helicopters.

“Avidyne Helios provides huge benefits for many helicopter operators and getting TSO approval is just the next step for Avidyne as we continue our growth into the turbine-class helicopter market,” said Avidyne CEO Dan Schwinn.

“Avidyne Helios gives our customers a powerful new option when upgrading their GPS/FMS navigation capabilities, especially for single- and twin-turbine-class helicopter operators with older-generation EFIS displays where options have been limited,” said John Talmadge, Avidyne’s Vice President of Worldwide Sales.  “This TSO approval allows MRO facilities to begin their own Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) programs and field-approved installations into rotor-wing aircraft.”

About Avidyne Helios™

The Avidyne Helios is a dzus-mount flight management system that meets TSO-C146c for full SBAS/LPV approach guidance, and is an approved GPS position source for ADS-B.  Avidyne Helios features easy-to-use flight planning, one-touch departure, airway, and arrival navigation, and Avidyne’s patented GeoFill™ waypoint nomination.  Avidyne Helios features a full QWERTY-style dedicated keyboard along with touch-screen hybrid touch user interface that provides easy map panning and flight plan editing.  Its extensive I/O is designed to integrate with existing equipment in the aircraft including a long list of EFIS, PFDs, CDIs, HSIs, remote sensors, and autopilots, and it is also an approved ADS-B GPS position source with numerous transponders.  Avidyne’s GPS Legacy Avionics Support (GLAS™) provides a direct interface to legacy Collins Proline 21 and Honeywell Primus EFIS systems for vertical guidance during approach operations. This unique integration capability enables EFISs certified before the availability of LPV approaches to have coupled approach guidance on these and other SBAS approaches.

The Avidyne Helios boasts a variety of features not found in any other FMS system, such as:

  • Hybrid touch-screen user interface incorporating a full set of buttons and knobs as well as touch screen operation for virtually all functions.
  • Moving map with extensive airspace, terrain, navaid, and airport display capability
  • Display of XM or ADS-B weather with full graphics as an overlay on the map
  • Traffic display from TCAS, TAS, or ADS-B
  • Display of Jeppesen™ Electronic Approach Charts and Airport Diagrams including Heliports.
  • Integrated WiFi & Bluetooth connectivity
  • Avidyne GLAS™ technology
  • Integration with ForeFlight® and a host of other third-party EFB Apps
  • Spill-proof keyboard and built-in USB charger
  • Optional NVIS compatibility
  • Optional integrated 16-Watt VHF COM, VOR, localizer and glide slope radio
  • Optional radar display for Bendix King digital radars
  • Optional integrated HTAWS with Power Line Database
  • Optional RS-170 video display capability

The self-contained unit is 7.5” tall, 5.75” wide, and 10.615” deep and is form-factor compatible with a host of legacy FMS systems.

For more information please visit: www.avidyne.com.

Pricing & Availability

Introductory pricing on Avidyne Helios™ starts at $23,999.  Helios with optional 16-watt VHF COM/NAV/ILS is $29,999.  Contact Avidyne for pricing of additional options, including HTAWS, NVIZ, Radar, Video, GLAS, and Gray Bezel.

About Avidyne Corporation (www.avidyne.com)
Avidyne’s continuing leadership in innovation and product design make flying safer, more accessible and more enjoyable for pilots and their passengers. The company offers a full line of avionics systems including dzus-mounted Atlas™ and Helios™ FMS systems, the panel-mounted IFD-Series FMS/ GPS/ NAV/ COMs, AMX240 audio panel, and DFC90 digital flight control systems. With a complete range of SkyTrax ADS-B solutions and SkyTrax600 ADS-B/Active Traffic systems, Avidyne provides complete support for the worldwide NextGen ATC surveillance upgrade. Headquartered in Melbourne, FL, the company has additional facilities in Columbus, OH, and Concord, MA.