Eurocopter has released further details on the avionics issues that have caused a six-month certification delay to its in-development EC175 medium twin.
Announced on 12 December, the deferral of the approval process until mid-2013 means entry-into-service is now pegged for September next year.
The airframer says the certification process for the proprietary Helionix avionics system to be deployed on the EC175 has been "far more demanding and complex than for previous legacy avionics systems".
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Although Eurocopter has tested the system on ground rigs and its two flight-test aircraft, it has decided to expand its validation efforts. "As a result of these tests it was decided to add two full software versions to ensure system maturity at delivery, adding several additional months to the certification schedule," it says.
"A detailed system-level design review was passed 'right first time' in August 2012, confirming progress with the Helionix certification effort."
Eurocopter says the avionics system on the EC175 is the first to be used by a rotorcraft that will be certificated to standards previously only seen on the Airbus A380.
The two flying prototypes have so far accumulated a total of 500h, and are now progressing with endurance trials.
Source: Flight International
