Astronautics' Roadrunner Electronic Flight Instrument Brings Ehanced Capability to Firehawk

Astronautics Corporation of America is providing its AFI 4700 RoadRunner Electronic Flight Instruments (EFIs) to United Rotorcraft as cost-effective, drop-in replacements on two FIREHAWK helicopters operated by the Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD).

The RoadRunner EFIs—two per aircraft—are part of an upgraded avionics package and instrument panel that United Rotorcraft is outfitting for the surplus U.S. Army HH-60L aircraft being repurposed into the new FIREHAWK configuration for the VCFD. The aerial fleet will serve the fire crews and residents of Ventura County, California.

The RoadRunner EFI interfaces seamlessly with modern digital navigation, enabling the FIREHAWKS to fly firefighting and other missions with enhanced safety and reliability.

“Enabling our customers to achieve mission success is what we do at Astronautics,” said Astronautics Director of Business Development Robert Koelling.  “The RoadRunner EFI provides United Rotorcraft, and ultimately the VCFD, an easy path to upgrade with enhanced capability now and into the future.”

The RoadRunner EFI provides operator readability in all lighting conditions, reduced operating and maintenance costs, and minimal downtime for installation.  The EFI install takes less than two hours, and the unit is field upgradeable with new software functionality tailored to meet customer needs and mission requirements.  Internal Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning and Synthetic Vision Systems will be available options in 2019, providing operators with additional safety features.

Astronautics originally provided its electromechanical vertical and horizontal situation indicators for the U.S. Army HH-60Ls in the late 1990s.

The HH-60L is a variant of the UH-60 Black Hawk. Astronautics manufactured over 10,000 primary flight instruments for the Black Hawk from the mid-1970s through the 1990s, including attitude director, horizontal, and vertical situation indicators, and command situation processors.

To learn more about Astronautics’ RoadRunner EFI and its capabilities, visit Astronautics during the HAI HELI-EXPO on stand C2028, and on the StandardAero stand B1429, as part of its SafeCraft system.