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Autopilot for Bell 407GXi certified in United Kingdom

The 3-axis autopilot system for the Bell 407GXi earned certification from the United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority.

“The system allows for decreased pilot workload and assistance in the event of inadvertent Instrument Meteorological Conditions, overall increasing pilot comfort and ease over long distances,” said Patrick Moulay, senior vice president, International Sales, Bell Textron.

The autopilot system is available in the two and three-axis configurations, with the two-axis version including pitch control (altitude hold, IAS hold) and roll control (HDG hold, NAV, vertical navigation mode). The three-axis option adds yaw control. Aircraft owners can specify the autopilot system on new Bell 407GXis or have the system retrofitted.

Bell explains the autopilot system is also equipped with a stability augmentation system to automatically recover the aircraft to near-level flight attitude at all speeds in the event of adverse roll or pitch; stability engagement throughout all phases of flight; and envelope protection to prevent over speeding and under speeding.

This autopilot system joins Garmin avionics and a dual channel FADEC-controlled engine on a single-engine aircraft. There are currently 1,500 Bell 407s operating across all six continents and collectively generating more than six million flight hours.