EASA Certifies Synthetic Vision, From Chelton

The European Aviation Safety Agency has certified the Chelton Flight Systems synthetic vision avionics system in Bell 407, 206A and B JetRanger, and 206L LongRanger single-engine helicopters. The certification covers Chelton's latest software version 6.0B level A, and includes graphic depictions of terrain, obstacles and WSI-downloaded weather. The Chelton system offers highway in the sky (HITS) capability and a full package of weather products, including Nexrad radar, satellite depictions, echo tops, lightning, winds and temperatures aloft, sigmets, airmets, TAFs, graphical and textual metars and up to date temporary flight restrictions (TFRs). According to Bell, there are more than 7,000 of its 206- and 407-series helicopters in service worldwide, with 400 more currently on order.