Boeing and US Army Successfully Test Advanced Rotorcraft Flight Control System

MESA, Ariz., March 12, 2012 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and the U.S. Army have successfully completed a series of tests on the company’s Adaptive Vehicle Management System (AVMS), an advanced rotorcraft flight control system. AVMS, which has been in development for two years, delivers enhanced maneuverability and safety while reducing aircrew workload and overall operating costs.

A Boeing H-6 helicopter equipped with the integrated AVMS conducted seven separate test flights in Arizona from Dec. 9 to 21. The tests demonstrated how AVMS adapts the flight controls to the aircraft’s flight condition, environment and even pilot intent. This improves the aircraft’s ability to operate in reduced-visibility situations with greater stability and improved safety.

“AVMS is a step forward from a traditional flight control system in that it is able to process large amounts of information and communicate with the pilot through forces applied to the control sticks,” said James Dryfoos, Boeing AVMS program manager. “These tactile cues allow the pilot and aircraft to work together better and maximize mission effectiveness.”

“Many elements of the AVMS can be incorporated into the CH-47 Chinook and AH-64 Apache rotorcraft platforms, and could be a key capability in future Boeing aircraft such as Future Vertical Lift rotorcraft,” said Steve Glusman, director, Boeing Advanced Mobility, a division of Boeing Phantom Works. “Projects such as AVMS deliver on Boeing’s promise to be more affordable, agile and innovative in a resource-constrained environment.”

AVMS is a joint development project between the U.S. Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate* (AATD) and Boeing. The company is competing for the second developmental phase of the project, which is scheduled to be awarded later this year.