Helicopters must now detect battery failure before it happens, not after

Helicopter models A119 and AW119 MKII must now have a new detector for battery discharge. This means pilots will get an early warning if the starter-generator fails, preventing a sudden loss of battery power.

A small electrical failure can quickly become a big problem in a helicopter. This rule means that a specific type of helicopter will now have a backup system to warn pilots before a minor issue turns into a major emergency. It shifts the safety standard from reacting to a failure to predicting one.