Business & Tech
Hopkinton's Alakai Makes Helicopters Higher Tech
New digital flight monitoring and management system gets FAA approval for use in helicopters used worldwide. Device uses 21st Century technology to raise safety.
Early this month Hopkinton’s Alakai Technologies, which develops aircraft safety equipment, received FAA approval to put its digital Flight Data Monitoring systems and wireless internet units into Eurocopter AS350 and EC130 helicopters.
Digital FDM systems limit stresses on helicopter components; tell pilots and support staff when those components are wearing out; and identify wear or damage to helicopter components in flight.
Until now, pilots and mechanics kept helicopters safe by keeping engines and rotor speeds within prescribed limits, visual inspections and logging hours of use.
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Alakai’s digital FDM system collects data from the helicopter’s moving parts and runs it through algorithms that turn the data into real-time recommendations to the pilot.
The $2 million AS350 is the single-engine, mid-sized workhorse of helicopters. More than 4,000, built by Eurocopter, are used by emergency medical services, and military and police forces worldwide.
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Users include the Mass. State Police, U.S. Customs and the DEA. An AS350 set a record when it touched down at 29,000 feet on top of Mount Everest in 2005. Depending on its configuration, the AS350 carries six including the pilot.
Digital FDM systems are similar to, but less expensive than the Flight Operational Quality Assurance system - black box - used in airlines. An FAA 2009 presentation (page 6) on FDM costs priced sophisticated devices for fixed-wing craft at more than $20,000. Alakai says its product will be much less expensive than a black box.
Now that the Federal Aviation Administration has approved Alakai's digital FDM, GA-FDM, which installs Flight Data Monitoring systems, has begun offering the Alakai system to AS350 operators around the world.
Alakai’s FDM system will analyze data from each flight to help helicopter pilots identify and reduce accident risks, enhance training, and reduce operating costs. Those reductions include lower fuel and maintenance costs, increased safety, and lower insurance costs.
Users will also get reports on aircraft and pilot performance that include suggestions for safer flying.
In Hawaiian, Alaka'i means "leader."