Airbus Helicopters debuts single-stick controls with eye on eVTOL flight

MARIGNANE, France - Airbus Helicopters in Marignane, France, announced that its demonstrator, FlightLab,  has successfully tested an electric flight control system in preparation of a new human machine interface (HMI) that will equip CityAirbus NextGen, Airbus’ eVTOL prototype. 

Airbus says the pilot controls have been considerably simplified by utilizing an enhanced piloting assistance provided by the electric flight control system. The European aerospace giant says it has accomplished a first in the helicopter industry: one single piloting stick replaces the three conventional pilot controls (cyclic, pedals, collective) and is able to control all aircraft axes. Using the single stick, the pilot is able to perform all maneuvers: take-off and landing, climb, descent, acceleration, deceleration, turn, and approach.

The single stick takes up less space, offers improved visibility to the pilot and is combined with a revised HMI which uses simple displays, providing a selection of information specifically tailored to eVTOLs.

After the success of the flight test campaign Airbus Helicopters is working on finalizing the details of this new system before new tests are conducted in the framework of Vertex, a project conducted in partnership with Airbus UpNext that will advance autonomy even further by managing navigation and simplifying mission preparation.

“From the start, we designed this system considering every certification parameter in mind as it will be a big step forward in validating the design of our urban air mobility eVTOL, CityAirbus NextGen. The advantage of an electric flight control system is enormous, especially when it comes to reducing pilot workload and ultimately enhancing mission safety. It is also a great example of how our demonstrators are used to mature the techno-bricks necessary to prepare the future of vertical flight,” says Tomasz Krysinski, head of research and innovation at Airbus Helicopters.