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Airbus Helicopters, Precise Flight get expanded STCs for Pulselite program

February 16, 2017  By Airbus Helicopters

Airbus Helicopters and Precise Flight, Inc. have announced approval of the amended Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the Pulselite Bird Strike Prevention System. This approval comes as an amendment to STC SH3319NM, bringing the total number of Airbus rotorcraft models certified for the Pulselite System to 67. This includes all EC135, H-135, EC145, H145, and AS350 models.


The Pulselite System is an FAA certified lightweight electrical system controller that alternately pulses the landing and auxiliary lights of a helicopter, thereby increasing its visibility and reflecting the speed and directional movement of the aircraft. In addition to enhancing the margin of safety by increasing aircraft recognition, some studies have shown the Pulselite® System to reduce bird strikes by up to 66%, according to Precise Flight. 

“Airbus Helicopters has a long tradition of leading the rotorcraft industry in safety and innovation,” said Lindsay Cunningham, Airbus Helicopters, Inc.’s vice president of Civil Programs. “We consider the Pulselite® System an important safety option, and we are excited to add these aircraft to the list of models now certified for the system.”

The recent significant increase in reported bird strike incidents and resultant aircraft damage has caused bird strikes to become a primary safety threat and financial burden to rotorcraft operators. 

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“The Pulselite System is installed on more than 25,000 aircraft around the world, and has been proven to make flying safer and the business of flying more profitable,” said Doug La Placa, chief executive officer of Precise Flight, Inc. “Precise Flight is honoured to work with Airbus Helicopters, Inc. to offer this important safety option to their customers.”

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