North Flight Data Systems Receives Canadian STC Approval for the Airbus EC135 Helicopter

North Flight Data Systems, LLC (“NFDS”) announces that Transport Canada has validated its FAA STC approval for its flight data system installation in the Airbus EC135 helicopter. The first Canadian installations will be performed on two EC135’s owned and operated by Phoenix Heli-Flight in Ft. McMurray.

The flight data system is comprised of a Voice and Video Recorder (CV2R), Multi-Function Data Acquisition Unit (MFDAU) and Quick Access Recorder (QAR). The North system is the first affordable Lightweight Aircraft Recorder System (LARS) that is fully integrated into the Airbus EC135. The system provides a crash-protected CVR/FDR that far exceeds the recent ED155 data capture guidelines and enables the operator to record well over 250 engine and airframe parameters, as well as six (6) individual audio channels with the video recording. The initial STC was completed on a PHI Air Medical EC135 and is now installed on over 100 EC135’s throughout North America. The system includes the ability to record all autopilot data streams, as well as analog or digital radar altimeter data. The recorded airframe and engine data is supplemented by an internal Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS) data stream. The addition of hook load or other accessory equipment data can easily be accommodated by the North system.

Paul Spring, president of Phoenix Heli-Flight comments, “Since Phoenix first installed HFDM & CVVR equipment in our fleet in 2008, I have been looking for the next meaningful advancement in light and affordable recorders that would provide airframe and engine parametric data to complete the knowledge we gain from basic geospatial data. I know the maintenance and safety benefits first-hand and I won’t operate a helicopter without data recorders. I am extremely grateful that North Flight Data Systems has acquired a Canadian STC to allow us to install this vital equipment in our new EC135 T2e that will be used in the demanding HEMS and SAR roles”.

“This Transport Canada STC represents the first of many FAA STC’s we will have validated in Canada,” says North Flight Data Systems president Jeff Warner. “I have had a long relationship with Paul Spring. He is setting the standard with fully integrated recorders, and it is just another example of the forward thinking he brings to the Canadian market. We have designed our system so that it is adaptable to all the different light single and twin engine aircraft on the market. We are continuing to reach our goal of being able to provide helicopter operators with affordable voice, video and flight data recording equipment that provides the detailed data that has, to this point, only been available on the larger aircraft. We couple our hardware with software that is very user friendly and designed to enable our customers to get useful FOQA and MOQA data.”