Astronautics has named Southeast Aerospace (SEA) in the U.S. and Aerotec in France dealers for the Astronautics Flight Instrument 4700 RoadRunner electronic flight instrument (EFI). The company plans to establish a network of dealers to market the device for both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. Announced earlier this year at Heli-Expo, RoadRunner is designed to be an easy-to-install replacement for older electromechanical attitude and heading indicators.

The two dealers will sell, install and service the RoadRunner EFI, as well as work with Astronautics to secure STC approvals for new applications. Both facilities bring a background in avionics and instrument services. Based in Graulhet, France, Aerotec specializes in aeronautics maintenance and manufacturing, and is certified to maintain avionics equipment and flight instruments on both fixed-wing and rotorcraft. Melbourne, Florida-based SEA, meanwhile, integrates, sells and services avionics and instruments for general aviation, corporate and regional airplanes and helicopters.

While a number of manufacturers have used dealer networks to bring their products to market, this marks a first for Astronautics, said Astronautics’ product marketing manager Dan Barks. Astronautics has typically worked directly with other manufacturers, their suppliers and governments with its other displays and equipment. But the RoadRunner is designed to replace aging displays on legacy aircraft. Operators of these aircraft might have only one or two models and can be spread out around the globe, requiring a dealer network for sales and installation, Barks said.

For ease of installation, the RoadRunner can use existing wiring, interface with legacy radios and other instruments and can fit in the cockpit where older five-inch attitude directional indicators and horizontal situation indicators are located. Barks noted that in some applications it can “plug and play” with an adapter harness.

As the RoadRunner updates the displays, it also accommodates newer safety features such as helicopter terrain awareness and warning system and synthetic vision. “This is about adding capability and adding safety,” Barks said, noting many of these aircraft have few simple replacement options.

Astronautics has introduced the unit in most of the major markets around the globe, Barks said. “We’ve had discussions about this product in virtually every region. There’s strong interest really everywhere there’s fleets,” he said.

The first application will be the Agusta A109. Astronautics hopes to complete the STC on that model in the second quarter next year. “There’s a real need for a replacement solution on this one,” Barks said. The company is looking at a number of other applications as well, including both fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft. “We’re working on the order. We’ll see where the most demand is for the ones that follow.”

The dealership network can help assist in those future applications. It also can provide a foundation for the future, Barks said. “It gives us an opportunity to introduce other new products into the market.”