The Airborne Public Safety Association’s (APSA’s) annual gathering served as a much-anticipated return to the in-person conference and convention scene after an 18-month hiatus caused by the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic. The event, held in New Orleans the last week of July, saw impressive attendance numbers, along with updates and unveilings of several products. Here are some of the highlights.

Helinet’s New Hawk

Since 1987, Helinet has been providing a one-stop option for aviation services. There is not a corner of the helicopter market that they have not tapped into, including charter, EMS, law enforcement, filmmaking, firefighting, and more. Led by Kathryn Purwin, pilot and wife of founder Alan Purwin, it continues to provide the highest levels of safety and service in the industry. With the often-busy fire season in Helinet’s home state of California, it’s no surprise that they not only offer aircraft configuration services but also provide Part 133 and Part 137 operations. Their firefighting capabilities doubled in May 2021 with the addition of its second dedicated UH-60 Black Hawk. Assistant chief pilot Alex Freidin said, “Every year, we had more and more requests for our services with our Black Hawk. By adding an additional UH-60, we are able to expand our offerings to a wider market. This aircraft has already allowed us to secure additional fire contracts in Washington, Oregon, Montana, Alaska, and with Cal Fire. We are excited to bring this new ship online and provide another step towards keeping Helinet’s customers and the public safe.”

Paravion Technology

Paravion Technology showed off its new Cessna 208B Caravan Retractable Sensor Systems Mount. Based on the C208ELP External Load Provisions belly rail kit, the upgraded version is capable of supporting various sized sensor systems, cameras, and other payloads. Sales and marketing representative Jon Dabelstein demonstrated the capabilities of the new model and said that several customers are looking forward to taking delivery. “The previous version was well-accepted in the public safety segment, and we expect the improvements on this upgrade to further enhance their capabilities,” Dabelstein said. 

Numerous safety and convenience features are designed into the kit, including electric (versus hydraulic) retraction and deployment motors, automatic closing doors, automatic low-altitude retraction and maintenance mode for ground lowering. An STC was issued earlier this year and the mount is currently available with a list price of $180,000.

Viewpoint Systems

While it may be a newcomer to the public safety sector, Viewpoint Systems has been supplying ruggedized video displays and mission computers to military customers for over a decade. Since 2011, Viewpoint’s products have been installed in applications including air, ground, and sea platforms, the Lockheed Martin X-59 QueSST, and the International Space Station. With MIL-STD-810G/DO160 test specifications under its belt, the performance of Viewpoint products are available for airborne law enforcement, SAR, firefighting, and EMS applications. Tactical displays are customizable, touchscreen capable, and available in sizes from seven to 24 inches (18-60 centimeters), including 4K options. The company’s Mantis surveillance computer can be configured for nearly any custom setup for mapping and sensor operations.  “Our products have proven themselves for many years from the battlefield to outer space,” said Viewpoint development rep Matt Tarczynski, a former police pilot. “We look forward to providing that same level of durability and reliability to our public safety customers.”

Shotover

The first product of the recent merger between Shotover and Churchill Navigation was unveiled at APSCON. The all-new M1 Surveillance camera system features the latest in large-format color sensor technology. With a high magnification zoom and 4K broadcast signal, the M1 allows for great stand-off distances for various mission requirements. The package includes real-time augmented reality mapping software that incorporates numerous features to help law enforcement and EMS operators operate more effectively and safely, regardless of environmental conditions. As a modular system, the M1 Surveillance package allows for future product enhancements including both sensor and software improvements.

“For many years we’ve made successful software for our customers needing mapping systems,” Shotover CEO Tom Churchill told Valor during the show. “We wanted to build a camera system to incorporate everything into one package for public safety, including law enforcement and EMS. That is why I merged Churchill and Shotover in August 2020. Shotover already had over 150 gimbals out in the market but not in the law enforcement or public safety sector. That’s where we come in. This new M1 system has allowed us to achieve a level of quality and accuracy not available elsewhere.” An infrared version of the system called the M2 is due to hit the market by the end of the year, Churchill said.  

MD Helicopters

In addition to showcasing the Oxford Alabama Police Aviation Support Unit’s recently acquired MD 530F at its booth, MD Helicopters provided the opportunity to experience their most recent offering in the venerable 500 series of light-single helicopters. During the demo flight, Valor correspondent and retired police pilot Brent Bundy put the updated MD 530F through its paces over the bayous outside New Orleans. The updated version incorporates an enhanced glass panel including an optional advanced NVIS cockpit featuring Garmin G500 TXi Electronic Flight Instruments (EFIS), Garmin GTN 750 Touchscreen NAV/COM/GPS, and Howell Instruments Electronic Engine Instruments and Crew Alert System (EICAS). These upgrades greatly enhance the safety of the 530F by delivering increased operational capabilities, greater mission versatility, and superior performance. 

Avidyne

At the last in-person industry gathering, 18 months ago, Avidyne, a leading provider of avionics and displays, unveiled its HELIOS multifunction flight management system (FMS) for helicopters. This year, the focus turned towards general aviation, with a product that could see integration onto law enforcement and EMS platforms. The Avidyne Vantage Flight Display System is a dual 12-inch (30-cm) upgrade that features 3D synthetic vision, hybrid touch user interface, and dual-AHRS multifunction display. It allows for full and split-screen display of maps, flight plans, Jeppesen approach charts and airport diagrams, checklists, and more. Users of the popular IFD550/540/440 systems will feel right at home as the interface is quite similar. The retrofit upgrade will first be offered for legacy Cirrus aircraft and is expected to hit the market in 2022.

Avidyne also announced its partnership with Swiss aviation software developer Daedalean AG, for the development of artificial intelligence-based avionics systems. The collaboration will see Avidyne providing its manufacturing and certification experience, while Daedalean brings its expertise in autonomous piloting software to the table. Pricing and availability of the upcoming product, dubbed Avidyne PilotEye Vision System, will be released in 2022.

Spectrolab

The second generation of Spectrolab’s SpectroLink system was unveiled during the show. The initial offering, in use by law enforcement and EMS operators worldwide for the past 10 years, adds digital control and linking capabilities to the industry-favorite SX Series Nightsun searchlights. The follow-up Gen 2 incorporates additional inputs and outputs for full integration of mapping systems. Working off the tried-and-true SX platform, for models including the SX-16 and SX-5, this iteration of SpectroLink utilizes the same type and size of connections and allows for 80 percent drop-in replacement from the previous setup, all at the same price.

“This upgrade brings SpectroLink to the modern age,” Spectrolab president Anthony Mueller told Valor. “It is more robust and adds further digital control of our searchlights. It furthers our investment and commitment in this product line to support our LE, EMS, and other customers.” The system is currently completing DO-160 qualifications and is expected to be available in early 2022.

Helitak

With the ink still drying on its recently issued FAA supplemental type certificate (STC), Australia-based helicopter aerial firefighting specialist Helitak displayed the FT4500 Fire Tank. Initially unveiled in 2018, the 1,188-gallon (4,500-liter) system is designed for UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and has undergone extensive flight tests and trials over the past three years, with the assistance of High Performance Helicopters (HPH) in California. After receiving 8110-3 Major Alteration approval in 2020, HPH president Brad Bauder said, “HPH has been testing and operating the new Helitak Black Hawk tank design for near on two years now and this tank is a game-changer in the aerial firefighting space.”

Fed by the AC-powered Helitak HP6000 Hover Pump, the retractable FT4500 can be filled in less than one minute. Control of the tank is handled by the versatile Helitak Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). It is the first Black Hawk external fire tank to receive certification. Additional designs for Airbus Super Puma, and Leonardo AW139/189 are expected soon.

Metro Aviation

The world leader in air medical outfitting, as well as a top choice for law enforcement operators, returned to the show circuit by displaying a recently completed Airbus H125 belonging to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO). The single-engine helicopter is equipped with all the goods for successful mission completion including LoJack stolen vehicle recovery system, a Goodrich 600-pound (272-kilogram) electric rescue hoist, digital mapping, and a NVG-compatible cockpit. This addition brings the HCSO Aviation Section to a fleet total of four Airbus helicopters and a Cessna 208 Caravan. Continuing its goal of improving safety for helicopter pilots, Metro Aviation also recently began distributing Instrument Conditions Awareness Recognition and Understanding System (ICARUS) view-limiting devices to its pilots. By utilizing the ICARUS training apparatus, pilots are trained in the recovery of entry to inadvertent instrument meteorological conditions (IIMC), a leading cause of rotorcraft accidents.