News
Avionics
FAA certifies Bell’s BasiX-Pro Glass Cockpit Retrofit Kit
March 26, 2024 By Helicopters Staff
Bell says the certification of its BasiX-Pro Retrofit Kit flight display provides a next-generation system for Bell 412 platforms. (Photo: Bell Textron) Bell Textron earned certification from the Federal Aviation Administration for its Basix-Pro Glass Retrofit Kit for Bell 412EP models. Bell explains the new glass cockpit retrofit kit benefits include reduced pilot workload, increased precision and improved situational awareness.
“The BasiX-Pro Kit delivers the latest integrated flight deck, high-resolution displays as well as engine data and flight operation recording,” said Chris Schaefer, vice president, Customer Experience, Bell. “With the BasiX-Pro Kit, 412EP’s now can be upgraded to 4-axis autopilot further reducing pilot workload.”
The BasiX-Pro Glass Cockpit Retrofit Kit uses the current Bell production displays from Astronautics and Garmin avionics by upgrading analogue instruments to a full glass cockpit featuring what the company describes as the latest technology and state of the art instrumentation that is common with current SUBARU Bell 412EPX and Bell 429 aircraft.
Bell says Astronautics has a proven record of dependability with hundreds of fielded displays, achieving high reliability with more than one million flight hours, while Garmin has become the aviation standard for COM, NAV, and GPS integrated solutions.
Currently, Bell is under contract to complete a fleet upgrade of several analogue Bell 412EPs.
Bell will offer the Bell-owned BasiX-Pro retrofit kit through Aeronautical Accessories with retrofits being performed at Bell’s global completion centres of excellence, which include Piney Flats, TN, Miami, FL, Singapore, Bell Australia and Prague.
