Genesys News

Genesys Aerosystems IFR HeliSAS Autopilot Integration on UH-60 Black Hawk By XP Services and Sierra Nevada Corporation

Genesys HeliSAS Increases Safety and Decreases Pilot Workload

Mineral Wells, TX (March 5, 2019) –– Genesys Aerosystems announced that it has teamed up with XP Services with support from the Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) in the integration of the IFR HeliSAS Autopilot and Stability Augmentation System as part of the comprehensive UH-60 Black Hawk upgrade program. In addition to its support, Sierra Nevada Corporation has selected the combination as part of their SIERRA FORCE™ rotary-wing platform.

The IFR HeliSAS provides the UH-60 with a 3-axis autopilot that brings key features such as, Attitude Hold, Altitude Pre-Select, Heading Hold, Vertical Speed Hold, IAS Hold, Go-Around, both VHF and GPS navigation modes, and Coupled VHF and GPS Approach Capability with the integrated WAAS Genesys Aerosystems EFIS, the IDU-680. The IFR HeliSAS works in conjunction with the existing SAS unit installed originally from the factory to bring unmatched capabilities to the mission at hand.

“We’ve been very pleased with the personalized service and support we’ve received from Genesys integrating yet another system into the UH-60 platform,” said Rod Allison, President of XP Services. “Their IFR HeliSAS performed terrifically on a coupled GPS approach down to minimums. We’re excited to offer this kind performance to our UH-60 customers” Allison added.

Last year, XP Services integrated the Genesys Aerosystems avionics suite utilizing 4 IDU-680 displays in the Black Hawk. Genesys IDU-680 displays offer high-resolution LCD glass depicting 3D Synthetic Vision, Highway-In-The-Sky (HITS), Enhanced HTAWS, Integrated FMS, Hover Vector and many more features. Both the HeliSAS and IDU-680 have increased the versatility and longevity of the UH-60 platform.

“The HeliSAS platform is a proven life-saving and workload reducing piece of avionics and XP Service has recognized a need for it in the marketplace” stated Nick Bogner, Director of Business Development.  “The integration of the IFR HeliSAS into the UH-60 proves the capabilities of both the HeliSAS product as well as XP Services as an integrator.”

Sierra Nevada Corporation has incorporated the modernized Genesys avionics suite for the UH-60 into its SIERRA FORCE™ rotary-wing aircraft platform. Sierra Force is a fully modernized and remanufactured UH-60L Black Hawk equipped with a revolutionary, state-of-the-art glass digital avionics suite and mission-specific equipment. The UH-60 aircraft undergoes a complete Aviation Engineering Division (AED), Army-certified A-to-L configuration at the Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD), essentially making it a new aircraft at a significantly lower cost. For more information visit: https://www.sncorp.com/what-we-do/rotary-wing-integration-remanufacturing/.

About XP Services

XP Services (XPS) is a developmental flight test company that conducts aircraft modification, civil certification, and military airworthiness qualification testing. The company is comprised of the most experienced and select professionals from US military and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) test organizations. The XPS Tullahoma Airport (KTHA) facility provides Avionics, FAA Part 145 Repair Station, and a DCMA compliant hangar facility with machining capability to fabricate components for rapid-prototyping.  XPS has significant experience with aircraft modification for flight test, instrumentation, and avionics integration. For more information, visit: www.xpservices.us (http://www.xpservices.us/)

About Sierra Nevada Corporation

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) is a trusted leader in solving the world’s toughest challenges through advanced engineering technologies in Space Systems, Commercial Solutions, and National Security and Defense. With applications including navigation and guidance, communication and surveillance systems, electronic warfare, aircraft systems and telemedicine, SNC provides state-of-the art solutions to military and commercial customers around the world. SNC has been honored as one of the most innovative U.S. companies in space, a Tier One Superior Supplier for the U.S. Air Force, and as one of America’s fastest growing companies. For more information, visit www.sncorp.com.

About Genesys Aerosystems

Genesys Aerosystems is a leading provider of integrated avionics systems for military and civil customers. Genesys Aerosystems’ avionics systems can be offered individually or integrated to provide an entire cockpit. Its synthetic vision Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS) revolutionized safety in low-level flight operations and is now approved on more than 700 aircraft and helicopter models. Genesys Aerosystems’ Helicopter Stability Augmentation System and Autopilot (HeliSAS) adds to its extensive range of S-TEC autopilot solutions and brings added safety within the reach of a host of operators for whom such systems were previously too expensive or heavy. For more information, visit: www.genesys-aerosystems.com.

Media Contact:

Simpson Bennett,

Marketing Communications Manager

(940) 327-9035

Simpson.Bennett@genesys-aerosystems.com

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