Safe Flight Instrument of White Plains, N.Y., is highlighting its icing conditions and powerline detectors for helicopters this week at Heli-Expo 2015.
The icing conditions detector (ICD) provides an instantaneous warning when icing conditions are present, before ice accretion has begun to negatively affect aircraft performance and controllability, according to Safe Flight. The lightweight, low-drag ICD comprises a single line-replaceable unit.
Safe Flight’s FAA- and EASA-certified powerline detection system (PDS) detects 50/60Hz-frequency powerline emissions. Weighing less than two pounds, the passive PDS provides visual and aural alerts to pilots when approaching an energized power line. (It cannot detect unpowered lines.) As the aircraft flies closer to the power line, the aural tone becomes louder.
Skyhorse Aviation of Pretoria, South Africa, has become the launch customer for the PDS. It plans to install them in its Airbus Helicopters AS350s. It operates eight AS350s and two Pilatus PC-6s.
The White Plains company also announced that Australian Helicopters will install powerline detection systems in six AW139s operating as part of the Ambulance Victoria Emergency Medical Services.
