Moog Inc., a worldwide designer, manufacturer and systems integrator of high-performance precision motion and fluid controls and control systems, has received Supplemental Type Certification (STC) from the FAA for its fully coupled GRC™ 4000 four-axis rotorcraft autopilot for UH-60A and A+ Black Hawk helicopters.
Fully integrated into the Black Hawk Genesys Avionics Suite™, the GRC 4000 has been added to Moog Avionics’ existing STC approved for IFR operations. The system provides advanced automation designed to reduce pilot workload during instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and low-altitude operations.
The certification represents a milestone in Moog’s broader Black Hawk roadmap, which includes plans to expand the system to the ‘L’ (Lima) and S-70i models in the near term.
Optimised for IFR Performance
The GRC 4000 provides stability and autopilot engagement from startup through shutdown, maintaining precise control across flight phases and environmental conditions. During low-visibility operations and complex instrument approaches, the autopilot and flight management system provide four-axis flight control and precision navigation for IFR missions.
Automation for Mission Focus
A single-button engagement transitions the UH-60 into automatic flight and fully couples with the flight management system for automated hover-to-hover flight operations.
By automatically handling complex flight-control tasks, the GRC 4000 allows pilots to focus on mission-critical responsibilities during troop and logistics delivery, search and rescue, firefighting, policing and other special mission operations.
Loss of Control Prevention
The Moog Black Hawk IFR avionics STC with the GRC 4000 autopilot provides a Tier 3 solution for Rotorcraft Loss of Control in accordance with FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) 2026-05.
This represents the FAA’s highest level of recommended safety equipment for preventing accidents caused by inadvertent IMC and loss of aircraft control.
Key Features
- Four-axis capability for precise automated flight and hover-hold operations
- Automatic recovery to level attitude across airspeeds
- Continuous stability augmentation throughout every phase of flight
- Lightweight and cost-effective upgrade
- Retrofittable on existing legacy Black Hawk fleets
Matt McCall, Director of Business Development at Moog Avionics, said the GRC 4000 is the first retrofit four-axis autopilot to receive FAA certification on a Black Hawk. He added that Moog is bringing increased automation and safety to the aircraft while allowing pilots to focus on mission requirements.
