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This new solution allows aerial firefighting operations to eliminate the start-up costs associated with similar non-certified offerings and to, once and for all, move away from the clunky and expensive legacy systems.

Spidertracks and Olympic Aero Services earn FAA STC

Spidertracks Press Release | May 14, 2018

Estimated reading time 2 minutes, 55 seconds.

Spidertracks and Olympic Aero Services announced on May 13 that their Additional Telemetry Unit (ATU) and Automated Flight Following Feed (AFF) solution has received final FAA STC approval for United States Forest Service (USFS) exclusive use in aerial firefighting helicopters.

This new solution allows aerial firefighting operations to eliminate the start-up costs associated with similar non-certified offerings and to, once and for all, move away from the clunky and expensive legacy systems.
This new solution allows aerial firefighting operations to eliminate the start-up costs associated with similar non-certified offerings and to, once and for all, move away from the clunky and expensive legacy systems. Spidertracks Photo

With their newly awarded STC, Spidertracks and OAS become the first to be able to offer a simple certified solution to aerial firefighting operations. The solution meets USFS AFF/ATU requirements and is STC-approved for the following aircraft:

  • Bell 205A
  • Bell 205A1
  • Bell 205B
  • Bell 212
  • Bell 412
  • Bell 412CF
  • Bell 412EP
  • UH1-E
  • UH-1L
  • S-61N

The Spider/ATU package provides an event-management solution that interfaces with an aircraft and enables real-time, accurate reporting on specific actions taken by that aircraft or equipment, such as tank/bucket open and closed and gallons filled and dropped. These events are reported with GPS data in the AFFJSON format, enabling pilots to focus their energies on what’s really important: flying safely.

This new solution allows aerial firefighting operations to eliminate the start-up costs associated with similar non-certified offerings and to, once and for all, move away from the clunky and expensive legacy systems that have dominated the aviation space for decades.

“In addition meeting all USFS requirements, the system is lightweight (clocking in at just over one pound), simple to use, and straightforward to install,” said Spidertracks’ director of product innovation Simon Williams. “With an FAA STC and USFS, AFF Feed is one of the only fully compliant solutions for the market. We’re excited about the possibilities the ATU/Spider solution can offer our customers.”

Spidertracks is a New Zealand-based aircraft management company that’s been making the skies a safer place to live and operate in since 2007. Their revolutionary hardware and software are used in more than 100 countries, and they’ve tracked more than seven million flight hours since their founding.

United States-based Olympic Aero Services is an industry leader in aviation systems and equipment, fuel quantity technology, and environmental qualification test engineering.

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