Colorado Springs, CO, USA, May 20, 2021 - Mission Wireless Intercom innovator and leader Axnes announced today that the new reconfigured Ventura County UH-60L Firehawk’s that recently delivered from United Rotorcraft’s facility in Denver, are equipped with the Axnes PNG Wireless ICS. Both aircraft delivered to the customer feature the integration of PNG’s GPS positioning capability of the MP50 handheld transceivers with the onboard AeroComputers UC-6000 digital mapping system for greater situational awareness of dismounted crew members, especially while operating at night and in rugged terrain.
Ventura County’s Firehawk aircraft incorporate avariety of mission-specific equipment to meet specific mission needs, includingthe Axnes second generation PNG Wireless Intercommunication System (WICS). Theaircraft were completed by United Rotorcraft, who specialize in high-quality next-generationairborne firefighting helicopter completions, specifically UH-60 conversionsand new S-70i Firehawk integrations.
The DO-160G (environmental-airborne) and DO-178C(software-airborne) qualified PNG WICS is integrated with the aircraft EagleAvionics digital intercom system increasing mission capability and operationalsafety for the most challenging scenarios, particular during rescue hoist missions.
The PNG WICS frees crew members from the encumbranceof wired connections to the intercom while minimizing the potential for ICS cordsnag hazards. Additionally, this wireless solution provides for the ability tomove freely within as well as outside the aircraft while maintaining real-timecommunications with the crew.
Stephen “Steve” Mickels, Commercial Sales &Solutions Manager of Axnes stated, “We are proud to support Ventura County Fireby providing them with our PNG wireless ICS for their new Firehawk aircraft. Axnes’PNG system has earned a solid reputation amongst state and local airborne firefightingand utility agencies as an extremely versatile and efficient tool to help improvecommunication, safety and situational awareness during critical public safetymissions. The PNG system enables line-of-sight wireless communication with fullAES 256 grade encryption for secure transmission.” He continued, “The uniqueintegration of the GPS positioning feature of the MP50 handheld transceivers togetherwith the AeroComputers mapping system allows for continuous tracking of dismounted crew members.”
Captain Mel Lovo of the Ventura County FIre Departmentcommented, “We selected the Axnes PNG wireless intercom for our new Firehawk’s becauseit provides superb wireless ICS capability, as proven on hundreds of aircraftworldwide. Their PNG wireless ICS will provide our agency with importantcommunications for our flight crews. Its full-duplex capability allows for crewcommunication inside and outside of the aircraft in the most severe noiseenvironments. What attracted us to PNG is its unique adaptive noise and echo cancellingtechnology and its “hands-free” non-interrupted VOX capabilities. Additionally,since the PNG wireless ICS is used by several different agencies and organizationsin California, it allows for communication in multi-agency events for crossagency communication between multiple different PNG handheld units, byswitching to a common or shared channel.”
The PNG WICS system is designed for integrationinto any aircraft communications suite, or it can be deployed as a standalone portablesystem. PNG provides robust, reliable, clear, and secure, full-duplex communicationsto crew members who are either wired or wireless.
