The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has announced the selection of Cobham to supply Synthetic Vision Electronic Flight Instrument Systems (EFIS) for their fleet of Eurocopter and Bell helicopters.

With a fleet of 19 patrol helicopters in the nation's second largest city, the LAPD's Air Support Division is the largest municipal airborne law enforcement operation in the world and serves a population base of four million.

Cobham's digital EFIS are lighter weight displays that enable enhanced payload capabilities, according to the company. Synthetic Vision reduces pilot workload and fatigue, and Cobham's field-updatable software allows new functionalities to be installed without replacing hardware components.  

The LAPD rotorcraft will be retrofitted with Cobham's two-screen EFIS system that includes Primary Flight Display (PFD) and Multi-Function Display (MFD), GPS Receiver, integral Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning System (HTAWS), and integral Flight Management System (FMS). Cobham's EFIS is compatible with night vision goggles and integrates with the HeliSAS Autopilot and Stability Augmentation System.

According to LAPD, ease of equipment installation, a proven track record of equipment performance in helicopters, company ownership of STC's, certification in both VEMD and NON-VEMD aircraft, and a commitment to customer service were all taken into consideration.

Responding to more than 46,000 police incidents per year while logging over 17,000 flight hours annually demands reliable equipment and a strong customer support commitment, the LAPD said. Mission demands dictate that LAPD aircraft remain on the cutting edge of technology providing improved mission readiness while ensuring enhanced situational awareness and safety.