Moog has received a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from the US Federal Aviation Administration for its GRC 4000 four-axis autopilot system designed for UH-60A and UH-60A+ Black Hawk helicopters. The certification makes the GRC 4000 the first retrofit four-axis autopilot approved for instrument flight rules (IFR) operations on the Black Hawk, enabling operators to upgrade existing aircraft rather than purchasing new platforms. Integrated into Moog’s Black Hawk avionics package, the system enhances flight safety by providing automated control of heading, altitude, speed, and hover while reducing pilot workload during instrument and low-visibility operations. The avionics suite also meets the FAA’s highest recommended safety standards for technologies designed to prevent rotorcraft loss-of-control accidents, particularly during inadvertent entry into poor weather conditions. Earlier flight demonstrations showed the upgraded helicopter successfully completing a fully automated flight from takeoff to landing using a single-button autopilot activation. Moog plans to expand certification to additional Black Hawk variants, including the UH-60L and Sikorsky S-70i, further broadening the system’s operational availability.
