Thales and StandardAero’s StableLight™ Autopilot chosen by leading helicopter operator Heli Austria

• Heli Austria selects the StableLight 4-Axis Autopilot from for its single-engine H125 helicopter
• Next-gen safety & performance: cutting pilot workload and boosting mission capability
• Proven FAA-certified system now entering EASA validation for European operators

Thales and StandardAero are pleased to announce the StableLight 4-Axis Autopilot system has been selected by Heli Austria, a leading European helicopter operator. The system is currently being installed on one of Heli Austria’s H125 helicopters at their facility in Sankt Johann im Pongau, Salzburg, Austria.

Based on Thales’s Compact Autopilot System, the StableLight 4-Axis Autopilot system combines several robust features into a lightweight system ideally suited for light category rotorcraft. ​ The system transforms the flight control experience of the helicopter with its stability augmentation. Adding stabilized climb flight attitude recovery, auto hover, and a wide range of other sophisticated features, significantly decreases pilot workload. This enhances mission capability and can help to reduce risks in critical flight phases and adverse conditions such as Inadvertent entry into Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IIMC). StableLight has a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

“Operational and pilot safety are very important to Heli Austria. ​ We have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to be the European launch customer of this proven product. The added safety features and reliability is a welcomed advantage to our pilots.” Roy Knaus, CEO, Heli Austria.

“At Thales, integrating cutting-edge technologies to deliver safety and trust is fundamental to who we are. By uniting Thales’s advanced expertise with StandardAero’s deep industry knowledge, we harness a powerful combination to provide Heli Austria’s pilots with the autopilot solution they have eagerly awaited.” Florent Chauvancy, Vice President Flight Avionics Activities, Thales.

“We are thrilled to be working with Heli Austria, a renowned operator in the European market. The adoption of our StableLight autopilot system demonstrates their commitment to safety and innovation. Once certified by EASA, European H125 operators will be able to reach a new level of safety and efficiency of helicopter operations with the StableLight system.” ​ Andrew Park, General Manager, StandardAero.

Source: Thales