Israel Aerospace Industries reveals its new helicopter safety technology

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) reveals its innovative Helicopter safety technology, which enables helicopter flight in Degraded Visual Environments (DVE), under all weather conditions.

Today's helicopter military and paramilitary operational missions typically involve flight over environments with a variety of ground obstacles. Such missions are often hampered by a combination of low-altitude obstacles and poor visibility, which may result in accidents and causalities. IAI's technology was developed to provide a safe and affordable solution to such operational requirements.

The system features innovative staring radar, advanced processing algorithms and cockpit multi-functional display integration. The technology allows for low-altitude flight under all weather conditions or lighting and visibility, and for safe landing in brown-out conditions by alerting the pilot of electrical power lines and other ground obstacles.

The system generates a synthetic image of the terrain, highlighting flight obstacles such as power lines and their supporting poles or towers. The system achieves a very high probability of 95% for detection of power lines, comprises two compact 30 x 40 cm antennas, requires only 250 W of power, and weighs 30 kg. The system has successfully undergone flight tests and is available for performing real-time demonstration flights.

Yosef Melamed, General Manager of IAI's LAHAV Division said: "IAI's new helicopter safety technology is life-saving. It presents a unique business opportunity with potential markets worldwide. We are examining the possibilities for further development and marketing of the product, including cooperation with strategic partners."