Helicopter terrain awareness system -- HeliTAWS -- from Sandel gets Part 29 approval on Bell 412EP helicopter

Posted by John McHale

VISTA, Calif., 1 Aug. 2011. The ST3400H HeliTAWS (helicopter terrain awareness and warning system) from Sandel Avionics received a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for its wire and terrain safety system on a Bell 412EP helicopter. Sandel's HeliTAWS is a 3-ATI wire and terrain safety system that uses the WireWatch wire-strike avoidance feature, a Sandel creation that protects helicopters from the threat of known wires, guy lines, and transmission lines. This announcement goes along with an agreement Sandel officials have with the FAA designating Part 27 and Part 29 helicopters operating under Part 91 or Part 135 rules as candidates for Field Approval installation of the ST3400H HeliTAWS unit, providing for simplified installation under the guidelines in FSAW 02-03A. The new STC SR02355LA is available now on the Sandel website at no charge when purchasing qualifying HeliTAWS equipment.HeliTAWS also has TrueAlert technology, which eliminates nuisance alerts, enabling pilots to safely take off, cruise, hover, and land at off-airport locations without triggering nuisance alerts, while still receiving Class-A terrain and obstacle warnings during the entire flight. The system is automatic and does not require pilot management of the phase of flight.HeliTAWS also has off-airport landing capability; high-resolution 3D terrain display; Class A HTAWS functionality; and available night vision compatibility.