A New, Low Cost FDR System
On Thursday, Appareo Systems, LLC and Bristow Group, Inc.
unveiled ALERTS -- Aircraft Logging and Event Recording for
Training and Safety -- a jointly-developed low-cost, self-contained
aircraft inertial measurement and flight data recording system.
Designed for permanent installation in light aircraft --
including Bell 206 and 407 helicopters -- the ALERTS system
utilizes state-of-the-art MEMS sensor technology, crash-hardened
memory and sophisticated 3D computer-generated graphics to provide
advanced flight analysis tools for light aircraft.
Representatives with Appareo tell Aero-News ALERTS is the first
affordable light-weight flight data generation, recording and
playback system to provide the tools necessary for small operators
to dramatically improve flight safety and pilot performance. With
the system, operators can easily confirm adherence to standard
operating procedures or modify these procedures using factual data
that reflects best practices of pilots.
ALERTS is also a powerful flight training tool that dovetails
nicely into existing training programs.
"I believe that this revolutionary technology will afford our
company a step change in our safety performance," said Mike Suldo,
President of Air Logistics. "It will enable us to visualize each
flight and monitor adherence to our operating procedures and
improve our pilot's performance. We have been using a high cost
version of this technology in our European fleet for several years
with demonstrated success and now we finally have a simple to
install, low cost, light weight version for our smaller
helicopters. Every customer I have discussed this with wants it on
their helicopters."
"We are pleased to have had the opportunity to partner with
Bristow in creating this outstanding product, which satisfies such
an obvious need in the general aviation market, says Barry
Batcheller, President and CEO of Appareo Systems. "Our
collaboration with Bristow, in which Appareo engineering
capabilities were channeled by Bristow's broad experience in
helicopter flight operations management, exemplifies the benefits
of pooling complementary competencies."
Dick Healing, Former National Transportation Safety Board Member
and an acknowledged expert on flight safety systems says, "Flight
data, when analyzed, provides critical information, desperately
needed to improve the safety record for light aircraft and small
helicopters. Finding an affordable solution was the biggest
challenge. Developing a FOQA capability takes it to a much higher
level toward accident prevention."
Company representatives state airborne ALERTS components will
sell for less than $5,000 per aircraft, software included. Annual
service plans vary dependant upon fleet size.
Demonstrations will be available at Heli-Expo 2007 in Orlando,
FL from March 1-3 at booth 342.
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