2

FAA Denies Bell 429 Weight Increase

By Elan Head | August 17, 2012

Estimated reading time 6 minutes, 31 seconds.

Despite approvals in Canada and in many countries around the world, the FAA will not be granting Bell a regulatory exemption for a 500-pound maximum gross weight increase for the 429.
In a significant setback for Bell Helicopter, the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has denied its request for a regulatory exemption that would have increased the maximum gross weight (MGW) of U.S.-registered Bell 429 helicopters from 7,000 to 7,500 pounds.
Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Ltd. submitted the request to the FAA earlier this year after receiving a similar exemption from Transport Canada (click here for previous coverage). Transport Canada approved the Bell 429s maximum gross weight increase to 7,500 pounds 500 pounds above the regulatory weight limit for normal category rotorcraft on the basis of extensive flight testing and analysis. At the time, Larry Roberts, senior vice president for Bell Helicopters Commercial Business, told Vertical, Outside of the previous certification limit at 7,000 pounds, all test data indicated that the Bell 429 would suffer no technical constraints by increasing the gross weight to 7,500 pounds. Since Transport Canadas decision in January of this year, 12 additional countries have approved the increased maximum gross weight, most recently Thailand.
In its petition to the FAA, Bell Canada stated that granting the 429 an exemption to the weight limit would allow operators to carry more fuel and additional equipment, including safety-enhancing equipment such as enhanced ground proximity warning systems (EGPWS) and helicopter terrain awareness and warning systems (HTAWS). It stated that the requested 500-pound weight increase would afford operators more opportunities for practical instrument flight rules (IFR) operations, further increasing safety. The manufacturer also contended that the safety level of the Bell 429, which was certified as a normal category rotorcraft under U.S. Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 27, is sufficiently advanced that in some cases it exceeds FAR Part 29 transport category rotorcraft design requirements.
In its ruling, however, the FAA found no compelling safety reason for an exemption. It stated, While the FAA agrees that the level of safety may be enhanced by the approved installation of additional certified equipment in the Bell 429, the FAA does not agree that this can or should be accomplished through the grant of a blanket exemption from the applicability of Part 29 for a rotorcraft weighing more than 7,000 pounds. . . . Currently, rotorcraft that exceed 7,000 pounds MGW are expected to meet the higher levels of safety prescribed by Part 29, transport category rotorcraft. To allow a rotorcraft to be certified at a higher weight than allowed by the regulations undermines the very philosophy that has served the United States aviation community since the beginning.
According to the FAA, the majority of commenters on the petition were Bell 429 operators or those associated with the product, who submitted comments in favor of the weight increase. Referring to these, the FAA stated in its ruling, While we appreciate the commenter submissions, the comments have not provided sufficient [rationale] to support the overall safety benefit of the exemption requested. Among the commenters opposed to the exemption were other rotorcraft manufacturers, a foreign Part 29 rotorcraft producer and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Opposing comments included the arguments that approving the exemption would provide a special favor to Bell at the expense of other manufacturers, resulting in unfair competition; and that an exemption would be an attack on the current FAA and EASA harmonized type certification and airworthiness standards and would also compromise the safety objectives of distinct airworthiness standards between Parts 27 and 29. The FAA concurred that an increase in MGW for the Bell 429 would present Bell Canada, Bell 429 operators and their customers with an economic advantage over their Part 27 competitors since their competitors are limited to a 7,000-pound MGW. Comparable helicopters at a similar weight class that are Part 29 certified would also be at a disadvantage since they were required to meet more costly Part 29 certification requirements.
The ruling did state that the FAA will issue a notice in the future to seek public input to determine if 7,000 pounds is the correct MGW for Part 27. Further, we will seek to determine if the current parameters (i.e. maximum weight and number of passenger seats) are the appropriate ones for the future, or if any other criteria may be more meaningful to establish the safety targets for the rotorcraft airworthiness standards. We will also welcome entirely new ideas and concepts, if those are supported by the rotorcraft community consensus.
Commenting on the FAAs ruling, Bell spokesperson Susan Gordon told Vertical, The Bell 429 is limited by regulation, not capability. After an extensive technical evaluation of the safety and operational requirements, Transport Canada the certifying authority for the aircraft and a bilateral partner with the FAA approved operation of the Bell 429 at 7,500 pounds. Transport Canadas findings, which included extensive flight testing, ground tests and engineering analysis, were shared with the FAA.
 
She continued, While the FAAs decision is disappointing, Bell Helicopter remains confident in the future of the Bell 429, both in the U.S. and globally, particularly as the number of countries accepting the IGW [increased gross weight] continues to grow. Our business plan is based upon the remarkable customer response to the Bell 429 as certified, not the incremental benefit of the IGW. We have requested a meeting with the FAA to discuss their decision.
 
To read the FAAs ruling in its entirety, click here.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

HAI Heli-Expo 2024 Recap

Notice a spelling mistake or typo?

Click on the button below to send an email to our team and we will get to it as soon as possible.

Report an error or typo

Have a story idea you would like to suggest?

Click on the button below to send an email to our team and we will get to it as soon as possible.

Suggest a story