Advances in helicopter avionics

When one attempts to define “advances in helicopter avionics” it is possible to do one of two things: (a) either describe in some depth the development of one particular aspect of helicopter avionics, or (b) illustrate the broader impact of avionics on the increased use of helicopters in general. In the present context the latter appears to be the more important because otherwise it is possible to give the misleading impression that helicopter avionics is a limited or narrow field, as it was in the past, whereas it is very wide and covers the whole spectrum of helicopter operations. The importance of avionics can hardly be over emphasised because in many ways avionics transforms the basic helicopter attributes of vertical flight and flexibility, and the continued development of helicopter avionics will be inevitable. It will also be inevitable because, in order to survive, our forces must continually improve their operational capabilities and avionics developments can allow them to do so. Now the most rapid advances in helicopter avionics may be achieved by adapting fixedwing aircraft technology although there are situations where entirely new techniques are called for. In any event the primary task is one of defining and tailoring equipment to the helicopter and its environment.