In a significant advancement for rotary-wing aviation, Heli Austria has been announced as the European launch customer for the StableLight 4-Axis Autopilot system, a collaborative product from Thales and StandardAero. The leading helicopter operator is currently installing the sophisticated system onto one of its Airbus H125 helicopters at its facility in Sankt Johann im Pongau, Austria.
Derived from Thales’s proven Compact Autopilot System, the StableLight solution is engineered specifically for light category rotorcraft. It integrates a suite of robust capabilities into a single, lightweight unit. The system is designed to transform the flight control experience by providing exceptional stability augmentation. Key features include stabilized climb, flight attitude recovery, and an auto hover function. These sophisticated features work in concert to significantly decrease pilot workload, thereby enhancing overall mission capability. A primary benefit is the reduction of risks during critical flight phases and in adverse conditions, such as an inadvertent entry into Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IIMC). The system already holds a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Roy Knaus, CEO of Heli Austria, emphasized that operational and pilot safety are paramount, and the company eagerly awaited the chance to adopt this proven product, welcoming the added safety and reliability for its pilots. Florent Chauvancy, Vice President of Flight Avionics Activities at Thales, stated that uniting Thales’s advanced technology with StandardAero’s industry knowledge creates a powerful combination to deliver the awaited autopilot solution. Andrew Park, General Manager at StandardAero, expressed excitement about the partnership, noting that once certified by EASA, the system will enable European H125 operators to achieve a new level of safety and operational efficiency.
