Business & GA

Low-flying helicopters face constant dangers from power lines, but a system designed to make their pilots feel more secure can be seen here. Safe Flight Instrument’s Powerline Detection System (PDS) is an aid to helicopter pilots and has been certificated by the European Aviation Safety Agency for the Eurocopter AS355 Twin Squirrel.

The box weighs less than 0.5kg (1lb) and gives aural and visual warnings. Simplicity is the key. At the heart of the system is a super low- frequency radio receiver that is tuned to the 50Hz power line frequency. It senses electromagnetic fields emitted by power lines and, when the reading exceeds a preset value, the system illuminates the “Warn” lamp and emits an audible tone similar to the clicking of a Geiger counter. As the power line gets closer, the rate of clicking increases.

 “The real benefit of the system is when pilots are operating in unfamiliar territory,” says Matt Greene, marketing director, Safe Flight.  “It can even help reduce insurance costs because they chances of a wire strike are so greatly reduced.”
Trans Helicopter Services of Paris certificated the system on its AS355 and is in active discussions with several major European insurance companies to negotiate a discount. 
The helicopter is available for demonstration flights on 22-24 May.