"Hellas" obstacle warning system from EADS/Dornier increases safety for Federal Border Guard helicopters
Friedrichshafen, 21 September 2001
The "Hellas" helicopter obstacle warning system from EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company will offer more safety to the German Federal Border Guard helicopter pilots. The Federal Border Guard's EC 135 and EC 155 Eurocopter helicopters are being equipped with this system.
As Dornier GmbH, a subsidiary of EADS, announced on Friday, the Hellas system (Helicopter Laser Radar) was delivered to the Federal Border Guard at the entry into service of the new EC 135 helicopters in Fuhlendorf near Hamburg in the presence of Otto Schily, the Federal Minister of the Interior. The Federal Border Guard helicopter squadron will receive the first 25 systems and install them in the helicopters until Spring 2002.
Dr. Stefan Zoller, Chairman of the Dornier Executive Board and President of EADS Systems & Defence Electronics, stated: "We are very pleased that the new helicopters for the Federal Border Guard will be equipped with the most up-to-date obstacle warning system available at the moment. Through Hellas our area Airborne Systems unit is making an important contribution to the safety of helicopter crews on their often dangerous operational and humanitarian flights."
With the increasing number of helicopters and operational flights under difficult conditions, active warning systems are becoming ever more necessary. For this reason, EADS/Dornier has been working on the development of obstacle warning systems for a number of years on the basis of an eye-safe laser radar. "Thanks to our experience with radar and avionics systems, we have developed a globally unique product - Hellas - which opens up good opportunities in both the military and civil markets," explains Johann Heitzmann, Head of Airborne Systems at EADS.
The Hellas warning system has been successfully tested on various models of helicopter (CH53, UH1D, BK 117, EC 145, EC 135) and in a variety of flight and visibility conditions, and has reached supply maturity level. The pilot receives information about obstacles in the flight path - such as high-voltage power lines - via optical and acoustic signals. Additionally, more precise information is available to the pilot on a multifunction display. With a workforce of approx. 5700 employees at several sites in Germany and France, the EADS Systems & Defence Electronics (S & DE) Business Unit is one of the most important defence electronics suppliers in Europe. Alongside avionic systems, Airborne Systems develops and manufactures on-board radar and systems for electronic warfare. It is participating in a number of programmes including production of radar for the Eurofighter and Tornado combat aircraft and the self protection system and further avionic systems for the "Tiger" and NH90 helicopters.
With revenues amounting to € 24.2 billion and a workforce of 100,000, EADS is the largest defence technology and aerospace company in Europe and the second largest worldwide.
Friedrichshafen, 21 September 2001
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EADS Systems & Defence Electronics
Lothar Belz
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Email: lothar.belz@sysde.eads.net
