Products
SkyCannon to implement Astronics Max-Viz Enhanced Vision

The Simplex SkyCannon is a helicopter-mounted firefighting system that enables firefighters to reach fires in high-rise buildings more quickly and effectively than traditional ground-based systems. Complemented with the Astronics Max-Viz Enhanced Vision System, operators of Simplex firefighting equipment will be able to see through smoke while fighting high-rise fires.

“The capabilities of the Astronics Max-Viz, which allows an operator to see through smoke, haze, light fog and darkness, is ideally coupled with Simplex Aerospace’s breakthrough SkyCannon to make high-rise buildings safer from fire,” said Astronics executive vice president, Elliott Troutman. “This application demonstrates the diversity of our installations, which increase pilot safety and situational awareness.”  

The new Simplex system will be compatible with viewing Max-Viz images on the aircraft multifunction display or on a dedicated display. In addition to enhanced vision images, newly designed Simplex Aerospace Fire Attack systems will support data acquisition of door operation, hover pump activation and foam pump activation, all correlated with aircraft GPS position.

Simplex Aerospace President and CEO Mark Zimmerman said, “Our new agreement with Astronics for the Max-Viz Enhanced Vision System is another step toward our goal of supplying Simplex customers with state-of-the-art systems that enable them to be more effective in fighting fires and saving lives.” Simplex produces the SkyCannon for the Avicopter AC313, Bell 412/212, AgustaWestland AW139, Eurocopter EC225 and Kamov Ka-32 firefighting helicopters.