The helicopter was equipped with a Garmin GNS 430 GPS mounted in the center of the instrument panel; a Garmin GPSMAP 296, which was mounted on the lower right side of the instrument panel; an Avalex Technologies™ mapping flight display system that had various map display capabilities; and a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) system.23 The Garmin 430 unit could be connected to the horizontal situation indicator (HSI) such that the course deviation indicator (CDI) could be used for additional course guidance. The Garmin 296 unit was capable of showing color-coded terrain elevation information and terrain alerts if selected by the pilot. The helicopter had an AIM 1200 attitude indicator that was limited to indicating ± 25° of pitch (that
seating capacity was for a pilot and six passengers. The helicopter was not certified for IFR flight operations