Flight Data Systems (FDS), an Australia-headquartered provider of flight data solutions, has gained an STC through SkyTrac for its SENTRY cockpit voice and flight data recorder on a H145 twin-engine medium utility-transport helicopter. The STC will enable the installation of multiple variants of the TSO-certified SENTRY cockpit voice and flight data recorder platform, the lightest and smallest ED-112 compliant recorder in its class.

The STC, performed on a H145 helicopter operated by Pennsylvanian air medical transport provider STAT MedEvac, also includes the FDS cockpit control unit and cockpit area microphone, providing a seamless installation process for operators seeking to upgrade their onboard safety systems. The installation also includes the FDS modular acquisition unit for sensor data acquisition and parameter expansion, and quick access recorder for easy downloading for flight recorder data, ensuring maintenance crews can easily access data and configure the system for operator-specific profiles.

“Flight Data Systems is very excited to announce our first helicopter STC for the SENTRY flight data recorder platform,” mentions Kerry Farrish, VP of sales at Flight Data Systems. “The cockpit voice and flight data recorder combination unit is the lightest ED-112A compliant recorder on the market with a clean-sheet approach through its innovative FPGA architecture, enabling a unique software-free installation.”

The SENTRY cockpit voice and flight data recorder (CVFDR) was designed by combining standard features of existing CVFDRs with a new approach to design. The SENTRY offers a small size, low weight and less power consumption than traditional CVFDRs in a modular and flexible architecture. This ‘software free’ recorder allows for aircraft specific configurations as well as the addition of creative and useful expansion capabilities such as recorder independent power supply (RIPS) modules and multiple underwater locator beacon mount locations.

Available in titanium, the SENTRY meets or exceeds all requirements of ED-112A and qualifies for DO-160G environmental and power requirements. The rugged enclosure is ideal for airborne operational environments including unmanned, commercial, military, fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.

“SkyTrac's ability to generate STCs for customers and sister companies is an advantage for the ACR Group as well as our customers,” notes Jan van der Heul, VP of sales at SkyTrac. “With our extensive experience in gaining STCs for our diverse product range, we were able to add the SENTRY and its accessories quickly and efficiently to a pre-existing Transport Canada STC familiarised with FAA, EASA and ANAC. SkyTrac is a one-stop-shop for operators looking for a wide scope of hardware and services, which include satellite communication terminals, STC development, custom application development and system integrations.”