new autopilot

[cherminator]

Hello Everyone,

 

 

I'm new here and hope to begin my helicopter training next year and eventually purchase my own R44 Raven II. My question is: Does anyone here know anything about the autopilot system supposedly coming out for the R44 early next year? Here is a link to more information:

 

 

http://www.cheltonflightsystems.com/HeliSAS.html

 

 

Here's a brochure:

 

http://www.cheltonflightsystems.com/PDFs/C...SAS_Bro_FNL.pdf

[joker]

I only breazed over their pages, but the main thing that stands out is there is not enough redundancy for me. I would prefer a second gyro and maybe a third for voting logic. I've had too many troubles with Gyros to put my trust in a single one.

 

Have a look at www.helisas.com as a source of information. Maybe they have a new website, but this one last dates to 2004.

 

Shawn Coyle reviews the system and gives it a thumbs up. So where is it? Probably lost in the FAA paper mountain, still trying to get certified.

 

It would be interesting to see if they are continuing R&D.

 

Good luck to them.

 

Joker

 

Edit: Well, I typed that above, before properly checking out the links. It seems that they have come on a long way from 2004. The brochure is dated 2006, with some fancy stuff written in it. So well done. Chelton Flight Systems were obviously impressed enough to take them on.

 

Second Edit: Is the R44 able to be IFR certified with this? Uh oh!

Edited August 30, 2007 by joker

[cherminator]

I talked to Jake Hart, Vice President Autopilot Systems for Chelton Flight Systems about a month ago and he said they were hoping to be certifed early in the new year and that they are in talks with Frank Robinson to offer the system as an option in new R44's.

 

A call to Robinson Helicopters about a week ago confirmed this.

 

Should I wait for this system before buying an R44? The improved safety aspect of the new system really appeals to me.

[joker]

You want replies: Here's some contentious comments that might speed things up.

 

I wouldn't lose any sleep waiting for it.

 

If it was that great a system it would have been all over the news. This is the first I've heard of it. (Not saying that I'm an expert.)

 

I question actually how much added safety it will provide. I'm sure it works fine...it wouldn't get certified if it didn't. However, it could lull pilots into a false sense of security. SAS to me is more of an IFR tool.

 

If you're flying in conditions where you need all that extra stability, and hands off to do stuff, you should probably be properly IFR trained and flying a properly rated IFR ship. I never needed any SAS mode during my VFR training.

 

VFR and IFR don't mix. Looking down at charts, fiddling with instuments and radios and playing with GPS and heading bugs are not VFR skills. Looking outside and flying the aircraft are. Organising your kneeboard before the flight is. God forbid, some will probably switch SAS on to change track on their IPOD!

 

When you are flying IFR you are assured of your separation and routing. Looking outside is pointless and you have much more 'cockpit' organisation to do. SAS will alleiviate the stress.

 

That's just my attempt to spice things up.

 

Joker

[Linc]

My favorite autopilot is the copilot; "You have the controls."

[Merc]

You know, I was just watching Batman:The Movie (60's version) last night. The reason I was watching it was because of the helicopter sequence at the very beginning of the film. Anyway, while Adam West is being bitten by a shark Robin puts the "Bat chopper" into "auto pilot" so he can deliver the "Bat shark repellent" to Batman

So if Batman had auto-pilot in the 60s surely it would be available now.

[Superman]

A year ago July I was at Robinson for the safety program. When Mr. Robinson came in for his talk, he was asked about the autopilot for the R44. At that time he said that he wanted to offer a simple, wing-leveler type autopilot. He had (I think) 2 manufactures that had provided him with an autopilot to test and he thought that they were too complex for what he wanted to offer in the R44, He wanted a very simple, easy to use system that would allow the pilot to take his hand off of the cyclic for a few seconds, nothing more.

 

Clark