Airbus Helicopters has announced that it has successfully tested an Electric Flight Control System (EFCS) developed as part of a new Human Machine Interface (HMI) that will equip its CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL prototype on its FlightLab demonstrator.
Tomasz Krysisnki, Head of Research & Innovation at Airbus Helicopters, said the advantage of an EFCS was enormous, especially when it came to reducing pilot workload and ultimately enhancing mission safety.
Airbus has considerably simplified the pilot controls thanks to the system's enhanced piloting assistance. Marking a first in the helicopter industry, a single piloting stick replaces the three conventional pilot controls (cyclic, pedals, collective) and can control all aircraft axes, perform all manoeuvres - take-off and landing, climb, descent, acceleration, deceleration, turn, and approach. It takes less space, offers improved visibility to the pilot and is combined with a revised HMI, which uses simple displays, providing information specifically tailored to eVTOLs.
Airbus is developing eVTOL-based advanced air mobility solutions to offer a new mobility service and reduce emissions in aviation across its product range.
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