Bell/Agusta Aerospace received full certification of the AB139 medium twin-turbine helicopter late last year with a now-standard four-display cockpit.
Initially approval by Italian airworthiness authority ENAC in June 2003 with a three-display cockpit, the helicopter received US instrument flight rules certification on 20 December (Flight International, 4-10 January) with the four-display layout. The fourth liquid-crystal display was added to the AB139's Honeywell Primus Epic integrated avionics to reduce pilot workload.
Other cockpit changes include replacement of the radio management units with two multifunction control display units with integrated global positioning/flight management systems.
The four-display cockpit provides pilot and co-pilot with an independent means of interfacing with aircraft systems using a joystick cursor control, says the AgustaWestland/Bell Helicopter joint venture. The fourth LCD also provides increased redundancy in case of a display failure, with automatic reversion to a single composite screen available on both sides of the cockpit.
AB139 assembly is under way at Agusta Westland's Vergiate plant near Milan. Aircraft have been delivered to Italian public transport operator Elilario, the Namibian government and the Aga Khan Development Network. Bell will begin assembly of the helicopter at its Amarillo, Texas plant this year, with delivery of the first US AB139 set for next year.
With Bell/Agusta having racked up orders for more than 80 AB139s, Eurocopter is considering developing a rival 6-7t medium helicopter. The EADS subsidiary signed a memorandum of understanding with China last year that could lead to the launch of a co-development programme this year. The helicopter would be developed for domestic Chinese and export markets.
Source: Flight International
