Elbit Systems has signed a long-term agreement with Leonardo Helicopters to jointly market and equip Leonardo’s line of commercial helicopters with the latest Heli-ClearVision Enhanced Flight Vision Systems (EFVS).
Heli-ClearVision comprises a set of wearable Head Up Displays and Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS), along with unique synthetic vision applications specifically designed for helicopters requirements. As the core element, the EFVS system comprises the ClearVision™ EVS camera that supports operations throughout the flight overcoming extreme weather conditions and low visibility situations, both day and night. Completing the Heli-ClearVision suite are the Elbit Systems’ Skylens™ and SkyVis™ wearable displays providing unparalleled “out of the window” capabilities for the first time on commercial helicopters.
The pilot’s situational awareness is also enhanced by Combined Vision System (CVS) generated by a panoramic image combining the real-world picture generated by the EVS with the Synthetic Vision System (SVS), a synthetic map based on digital terrain model database, improving pilot orientation in limited-visibility conditions. Such orientation is further enhanced by the system’s ability to detect lights such as those of oil rigs, helipads and runways.
Leonardo is among the top ten global players in Aerospace, Defense and Security and Italy’s main industrial company.
Yoram Shmuely, General Manager of Elbit Systems Aerospace Division, said in a statement: “Elbit Systems is proud to be selected by Leonardo to integrate the commercial Heli-ClearVision EFVS across the line of Leonardo helicopters. Leveraging our world leading solutions of EFVS for fix-wing platforms to the helicopter market will enable pilots to fly ‘eyes out’ and operate safely under degraded visibility and weather conditions that prevented such operation in the past.”
Daniele Romiti, Leonardo Helicopters Managing Director said in a statement: “Our teaming with Elbit Systems strongly contributes to our commitment to enhancing the flight experience of pilots flying Leonardo helicopters. By offering these cutting-edge systems and technologies on our new generation platforms we position Leonardo Helicopters more and more as the most capable helicopter to perform any mission with high safety in all weather conditions.”
Skylens is a revolutionary wearable display that effectively responds to today’s aviator challenges. Skylens displays high resolution information, images and video on a head-up high-transparency visor, providing helicopter pilots with superior situational awareness while looking out of the cockpit.
While the Skylens design is rather new, this innovation is based on 30 years of experience Elbit Systems gained with the development, manufacturing and operation of over 10,000 operational helmet-mounted displays (HMD) in more than two million operational hours to date.
SkyVis is designed as a helmet mounted display (HMD) with line-of-sight (LOS) technology, providing night and daytime head-up display (HUD) capabilities. The system enables pilots to perform mission related activities in marginal weather conditions without compromising safety. SkyVis is based on proven HMD, which has been installed on over 6,500 helicopters, with 2.5 million operational flight hours accumulated more than 25 different platforms.