Mon, Oct 24, 2005
A new GPS moving map
system is now available for the R44 Raven II Police Helicopter. To
create the system Robinson combined software designed by Greg
Taylor of Flight Management Systems with existing R44 hardware.
With this combination the operator can type in a particular
address, which is then displayed on a street map showing the
location of the address along with the position of the
helicopter.
Direction, distance, and estimated time of arrival are also
displayed, providing the police with an easy-to-use map to guide
them to their destination.
The FAA-approved installation includes a Stealth personal
computer with Intel 1.2 GHz Celeron processor, custom keyboard and
moving map software. The image is displayed on the same 10-inch
Transvideo fold-down monitor currently used with the FLIR infrared
camera system.
Buttons on the screen allow the observer to switch between the
FLIR images and map display. GPS helicopter position data is
provided by the Garmin 420 GPS/Com, standard equipment on the
Police Helicopter.
The onboard computer system also accommodates a mobile data
terminal “MDT” system which allows two-way
communication with the dispatch computers at the police station and
in squad cars. The observer can obtain unit status, vehicle
descriptions, active call information, and respond to calls
directly through the computer. Call addresses posted on the
dispatch screen can be pasted directly into the moving map address
window, eliminating keystrokes and reducing response time.
List price for the moving map option is US $15,000 which
includes installation of parcel map data (supplied by police agency
where available). Weight of the added optional equipment is
approximately 10 lbs. After six months of testing the system in his
R44 Police Helicopter, Leo Bell of CA Aviation Services feels that
“with the moving map and MDT system, the R44 is now one of
the best equipped police helicopters available.”
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