{"id":9653,"date":"2026-03-10T20:12:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T19:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dgualdo.it\/wpmain\/?p=9653"},"modified":"2026-03-10T17:15:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T16:15:12","slug":"vai-2026-news-astronautics-roadrunner-efi-seeking-japan-civil-aviation-bureau-co-validation-of-faa-stc-for-leonardo-a109-helicopters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dgualdo.it\/wpmain\/vai-2026-news-astronautics-roadrunner-efi-seeking-japan-civil-aviation-bureau-co-validation-of-faa-stc-for-leonardo-a109-helicopters\/aw_news\/03\/2026\/","title":{"rendered":"VAI 2026 NEWS &#8211; ASTRONAUTICS ROADRUNNER\u00ae EFI SEEKING JAPAN CIVIL AVIATION BUREAU CO-VALIDATION OF FAA STC FOR LEONARDO A109 HELICOPTERS."},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"428\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dgualdo.it\/wpmain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Astronautics-JCAB-Covalidatio-A109-600x428.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9654\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dgualdo.it\/wpmain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Astronautics-JCAB-Covalidatio-A109-600x428.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.dgualdo.it\/wpmain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Astronautics-JCAB-Covalidatio-A109-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dgualdo.it\/wpmain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Astronautics-JCAB-Covalidatio-A109-768x548.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.dgualdo.it\/wpmain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Astronautics-JCAB-Covalidatio-A109-1536x1096.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.dgualdo.it\/wpmain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Astronautics-JCAB-Covalidatio-A109-2048x1461.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">A certified digital cockpit modernization solution developed in collaboration with Tokyo-based Alpha Aviation and StandardAero<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PRESS RELEASE &#8211; OAK CREEK, WI \u2013 March 5, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Astronautics Corporation of America, together with Alpha Aviation and StandardAero, is seeking Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) co-validation of its Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) supplemental type certificate (STC) for the RoadRunner\u00ae AFI4700 electronic flight instrument (EFI) on Leonardo A109-series helicopters operating in Japan.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Upon approval, the JCAB co-validation will recognize FAA STC No. SR04390CH for installation of the AFI4700 EFI on A109E, A109S, and AW109SP helicopters.&nbsp; This will enable operators in Japan to install the RoadRunner EFI using an FAA-approved certification basis, expanding availability of the digital cockpit upgrade in the Asia-Pacific region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">RoadRunner is designed as a certified digital cockpit modernization solution for legacy helicopter cockpits, replacing analog attitude director and horizontal situation indicators with digital displays that enhance situational awareness, improve reliability, and reduce long-term maintenance costs\u2014all without requiring a full avionics suite replacement and with minimal downtime for installation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe JCAB co-validation process is an important step for RoadRunner and for operators in Japan,\u201d said Griffin Wendt, manager of business development at Astronautics.&nbsp; \u201cIt will allow Japanese operators to adopt a modern, digital EFI solution based on a FAA STC while maintaining alignment with local regulatory requirements.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The certification effort is being conducted through close coordination between Astronautics, StandardAero, and Alpha Aviation\u2014an Astronautics-authorized dealer based in Tokyo.&nbsp; StandardAero, which served as co-applicant with Astronautics on the original FAA STC, submitted the application to JCAB.&nbsp; Alpha Aviation is supporting the program locally by installing the RoadRunner EFI on an A109E helicopter and conducting the required ground and flight testing in support of the co-validation process.&nbsp; The co-validation is expected to be achieved later this year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A certified digital cockpit modernization solution developed in collaboration with Tokyo-based Alpha Aviation and StandardAero PRESS RELEASE &#8211;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,3131],"tags":[525,658,23,3139,125,698,3136],"class_list":["post-9653","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-aw_news","category-verticon-2026-atlanta-ga","tag-a109e","tag-a109s","tag-agustawestland","tag-astronautics","tag-aw109sp","tag-leonardo-helicopters","tag-vai-2026"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dgualdo.it\/wpmain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9653","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dgualdo.it\/wpmain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dgualdo.it\/wpmain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dgualdo.it\/wpmain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dgualdo.it\/wpmain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9653"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.dgualdo.it\/wpmain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9653\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9655,"href":"https:\/\/www.dgualdo.it\/wpmain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9653\/revisions\/9655"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dgualdo.it\/wpmain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9653"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dgualdo.it\/wpmain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9653"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dgualdo.it\/wpmain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9653"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}