HELICOPTER ACHIEVEMENT SCHEME GYROS

With the introduction of flybarless rotor systems and the electronic stabilisation that usually goes with them, Areas Council decided in September 2010 to expand the section on the use of Gyros in the Helicopter tests to cover the latest situation. The wording in the ‘A’ and ‘B’ Helicopter Standards booklet is now as follows.

Gyros and Electronic Stabilisation

Where a fly bar is fitted, it is acceptable to use an electro-mechanical or solid state gyro in a helicopter being used to take the test although electronic stabilisation is restricted to a single sensor acting in rotation around the yaw axis only. This allows a range of gyros to be fitted, from simple yaw dampers to solid state heading lock units but only acting on the tail rotor. If the helicopter does not have a fly bar fitted it is acceptable to use extra electronic stabilisation, however the extra electronic stabilisation must only be acting as a fly bar replacement system and must not take over control from the pilot or achieve automated flight. The use of any autopilot and/or artificial stability features which are (or may be) designed into such units beyond definition above is not acceptable during the test and is not allowed. Candidates should be prepared to explain the capabilities of the system they are using and show that it does not take over control from the pilot and that automated flight will not be achieved during the test.

This is now the official definition of what stabilisation is allowed in the tests and it covers the vast majority of gyros and stabilisation systems currently available. The development of electronic systems is advancing continuously and it is quite likely that further modes of stabilisation will be available in the future. Areas Council accepted and welcomed any such developments but in agreeing the wording above, it has made it clear what the limits are for using artificial stabilisation in the tests.

Please note that any wording that occurs in any section of the Helicopter tests which does not comply with the above will be altered during 2011.

Chris Bromley, FSMAE
BMFA Technical Secretary