Thu, Jan 06, 2011
Eurocopter’s Helibras Subsidiary To Upgrade 36
Aircraft
The Helicópteros do Brasil (Helibras) subsidiary of
Eurocopter signed a contract for a major upgrade program on the
Brazilian Army’s fleet of 36 AS350 Ecureuils. This
modernization includes the rebuilding of three of these
aircraft.
Brazilian Army AS350
This activity, involving AS350s operated by the Brazilian Army
Aviation Command (Comando de Aviação do
Exército), will begin during 2011 – with its
completion expected in 2018. The work is to be carried out at
Helibras’ facilities in Itajubá, which are located in
the southeastern Brazilian
state of Minas Gerais.
Eurocopter’s single-engine, multipurpose AS350 entered
service with the Brazilian Army Aviation Command more than two
decades ago, and Helibras’ upgrade program will ensure the
continued operation of these helicopters for at least 25 additional
years. Included in the modernization program is the installation of
a glass cockpit with three large liquid crystal displays, the
integration of an Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) with
autopilot and the use of improved seats for pilots to provide
better visibility and enhanced protection.
Much of this upgrade package developed by Helibras can be
applied to AS350 Ecureuils flown by other operators in Brazil,
representing an inventory of some 300 helicopters.
“Technology has made huge leaps since the first AS350 entered
service, with the use of digital avionics and computers providing
better safety and performance, along with a lower workload for
pilots,” said Helibras President Eduardo Marson. “The
application of our modernization package to the AS350 will
significantly improve this helicopter’s versatility for the
Brazilian Army Aviation Command, and we are offering these
enhancements for other Ecureuil operators in Brazil as
well.”
The AS350’s new avionics will be developed by Helibras in
Brazil with Sagem (Safran Group) and Aeroeletrônica, based on
a cooperation agreement established in November. The displays will
be supplied by Sagem Avionics Inc., while Aeroeletrônica will
be responsible for providing the computer and assembling the
avionics system.
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