A helicopter with computer controls can now be certified for flight

US aviation regulators have created new safety rules for a helicopter that uses a computer to control its flight. This means that a new type of aircraft, one that relies on software instead of direct mechanical links, can now be approved for commercial use.

For decades, aircraft certification rules assumed a pilot's controls were physically connected to the aircraft's moving parts. This document creates a path for helicopters that use 'fly-by-wire' systems, where computers translate pilot input into flight commands. This opens the door for more advanced automation in smaller, more affordable aircraft, not just large passenger jets.