Thales and StandardAero’s StableLight Autopilot chosen by leading helicopter operator Heli Austria

Thales and StandardAero announced the StableLight 4-Axis Autopilot system has been selected by Heli Austria. The system is currently being installed on one of Heli Austria’s H125 helicopters at their facility in Sankt Johann im Pongau, Salzburg, Austria. Based on Thales’s Compact Autopilot System, the StableLight 4-Axis Autopilot system combines several robust features into a lightweight system ideally suited for light category rotorcraft. ​

The system transforms the flight control experience of the helicopter with its stability augmentation. Adding stabilized climb flight attitude recovery, auto hover, and a wide range of other sophisticated features, significantly decreases pilot workload. This enhances mission capability and can help to reduce risks in critical flight phases and adverse conditions such as Inadvertent entry into Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IIMC). StableLight has a Supplemental Type Certificate from the US Federal Aviation Administration.

Roy Knaus, CEO, Heli Austria commented: “Operational and pilot safety are very important to Heli Austria. ​ We have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to be the European launch customer of this proven product. The added safety features and reliability is a welcomed advantage to our pilots.”

Florent Chauvancy, Vice President Flight Avionics Activities, Thales stated: “At Thales, integrating cutting-edge technologies to deliver safety and trust is fundamental to who we are. By uniting Thales’s advanced expertise with StandardAero’s deep industry knowledge, we harness a powerful combination to provide Heli Austria’s pilots with the autopilot solution they have eagerly awaited.”

Andrew Park, General Manager, StandardAero said: “We are thrilled to be working with Heli Austria, a renowned operator in the European market. The adoption of our StableLight autopilot system demonstrates their commitment to safety and innovation. Once certified by EASA, European H125 operators will be able to reach a new level of safety and efficiency of helicopter operations with the StableLight system.”