EC175 møter problemer

'Complex' avionics certification delays Eurocopter EC175

By:   DOMINIC PERRY LONDON

01:00 14 Dec 2012 

Source: 

 

 Eurocopter has released further details on the avionics issues that
have caused a six-month certification delay to its in-development
EC175 medium twin.

Announced on 12 December, the deferral of the approval process
until mid-2013 means entry-into-service is now pegged for
September next year.

The airframer says the certification process for the proprietary
Helionix avionics system to be deployed on the EC175 has been
"far more demanding and complex than for previous legacy avionics
systems"

Although Eurocopter has tested the system on ground rigs and its
two flight-test aircraft, it has decided to expand its validation efforts.
"As a result of these tests it was decided to add two full software
versions to ensure system maturity at delivery, adding several
additional months to the certification schedule," it says.

"A detailed system-level design review was passed 'right first time'
in August 2012, confirming progress with the Helionix certification
effort."

Eurocopter says the avionics system on the EC175 is the first to be
used by a rotorcraft that will be certificated to standards previously
only seen on the Airbus A380.

The two flying prototypes have so far accumulated a total of 500h,
and are now progressing with endurance trials.