Helitech International 2013: Light Twin Focus for Bell
Bell Helicopter (Booth E10) is planning to put the spotlight on the 429 light twin at Helitech 2013 with one example on static display and another putting on flight demonstrations throughout the show. Bell describes the 429 as the 21st century standard for light twins, “delivering exceptional speed, range, hover performance and enhanced safety margins, with comfort and cost management.”
The 429 is certified for single- and dual- pilot IFR operations with GPS Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) capabilities that enable point-in-space approaches down to 250 feet. Bell’s BasiX-Pro integrated glass cockpit avionics feature either two or three multi-function displays, a dual digital three-axis autopilot and an integrated electronic data recorder.
Bell 429. Photo courtesy of Bell Helicopter
Performance-wise, the aircraft boasts a 150-knot (278 km/h) maximum speed, a range of over 400 nm (741 km), and the ability to hover at more than 11,000 feet (3,438 m) outside ground effect.
The cabin has 204 cubic feet (5.78 cubic meters) of usable volume, features side doors 60 inches (152 cm) wide, optional rear clam-shell doors and can seat seven passengers and one crewmember on crashworthy seats. Other safety features include collective-mounted throttles, damage tolerant hub and rotor system, as well as “outstanding” One Engine Inoperative (OEI) performance, according to the company.
Bell’s 429 is also the first helicopter certified through the MSG-3 Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) process resulting in reduced costs for operators.
Besides the 429, Bell is also sure to attract interest with new models such as the 525 Relentless and the aircraft that marks its return in force with the Short Light Single (SLS) to a sector it once dominated, and with updates to established machines, such as the 407GX.
Fra Heli-Expo 2013:
The CAP set very high standards for maximizing crew situational awareness, leading to the creation of the ARC Horizon® flight deck system. Key components include the fly-by-wire controls, the Garmin G5000H® avionics and the overall cockpit design, which optimizes the crew's field-of-view. The full combination of components delivers proactive hazard intervention with an automatic response to one engine operable conditions and a seamless transition into autorotation if necessary. The touch screen Garmin G5000H keeps pilots informed of aircraft or obstacle hazards using features such as Helicopter Synthetic Vision Technology (HSVT®), the helicopter terrain awareness and warning system (HTAWS), and the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS-II) for further safety of flight enhancements.
Though we have incorporated step-change technology into the Bell 525 Relentless, the results of our efforts are best echoed by pilots have flown one of our cockpit simulators, which utilizes the actual crew interface and fly-by-wire control laws to be found in the aircraft itself.
When Ernie Stephens, a pilot and editor-at-large for Rotor & Wing magazine, had a chance to test the cockpit simulator at HELI-EXPO 2013, compared the proposed layout to "sitting in an easy chair" and noticed the "Bell 525 will be as automated or as basic as the pilot wants at any given time."
We were happy to impress a journalist, but we also allowed several pilots their own chance to get behind the stick during the show and wanted them to have a chance to share their initial impressions. We really wanted to demonstrate the aircraft's enhanced safety and performance for Category A takeoffs and landings, the intuitive controls and the overall reduced pilot workload — especially for emergency procedures. We were able to get a lot of good feedback that has since been incorporated into the design and simulation as we push towards first flight next year.
Here are just a few comments we have heard so far:
Safety
Fly-by-Wire Ease of Use
The 429 is certified for single- and dual- pilot IFR operations with GPS Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) capabilities that enable point-in-space approaches down to 250 feet. Bell’s BasiX-Pro integrated glass cockpit avionics feature either two or three multi-function displays, a dual digital three-axis autopilot and an integrated electronic data recorder.
Bell 429. Photo courtesy of Bell Helicopter
Performance-wise, the aircraft boasts a 150-knot (278 km/h) maximum speed, a range of over 400 nm (741 km), and the ability to hover at more than 11,000 feet (3,438 m) outside ground effect.
The cabin has 204 cubic feet (5.78 cubic meters) of usable volume, features side doors 60 inches (152 cm) wide, optional rear clam-shell doors and can seat seven passengers and one crewmember on crashworthy seats. Other safety features include collective-mounted throttles, damage tolerant hub and rotor system, as well as “outstanding” One Engine Inoperative (OEI) performance, according to the company.
Bell’s 429 is also the first helicopter certified through the MSG-3 Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) process resulting in reduced costs for operators.
Besides the 429, Bell is also sure to attract interest with new models such as the 525 Relentless and the aircraft that marks its return in force with the Short Light Single (SLS) to a sector it once dominated, and with updates to established machines, such as the 407GX.
Fra Heli-Expo 2013:
Flying High: Pilot Feedback is Shaping the Bell 525 Relentless
When we launched the Bell 525 Relentless design process, we knew our toughest critics would be those who will actually fly the aircraft. That is why we made a point to engage operators and pilots through our Customer Advisory Panel (CAP) in every step of the design.
The CAP set very high standards for maximizing crew situational awareness, leading to the creation of the ARC Horizon® flight deck system. Key components include the fly-by-wire controls, the Garmin G5000H® avionics and the overall cockpit design, which optimizes the crew's field-of-view. The full combination of components delivers proactive hazard intervention with an automatic response to one engine operable conditions and a seamless transition into autorotation if necessary. The touch screen Garmin G5000H keeps pilots informed of aircraft or obstacle hazards using features such as Helicopter Synthetic Vision Technology (HSVT®), the helicopter terrain awareness and warning system (HTAWS), and the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS-II) for further safety of flight enhancements.
Though we have incorporated step-change technology into the Bell 525 Relentless, the results of our efforts are best echoed by pilots have flown one of our cockpit simulators, which utilizes the actual crew interface and fly-by-wire control laws to be found in the aircraft itself.
When Ernie Stephens, a pilot and editor-at-large for Rotor & Wing magazine, had a chance to test the cockpit simulator at HELI-EXPO 2013, compared the proposed layout to "sitting in an easy chair" and noticed the "Bell 525 will be as automated or as basic as the pilot wants at any given time."
We were happy to impress a journalist, but we also allowed several pilots their own chance to get behind the stick during the show and wanted them to have a chance to share their initial impressions. We really wanted to demonstrate the aircraft's enhanced safety and performance for Category A takeoffs and landings, the intuitive controls and the overall reduced pilot workload — especially for emergency procedures. We were able to get a lot of good feedback that has since been incorporated into the design and simulation as we push towards first flight next year.
Here are just a few comments we have heard so far:
Safety
"I had read the show article describing some of the features of the fly-by-wire flight controls to include its auto hover and return to starting positions when the airspeed is below 10 knots. I felt that this was a huge step forward in safety so I brought senior executives to include the presidents of 3 major insurance underwriters so they could observe me fly and try out these new features. They were all very impressed with the fly-by-wire aspect and felt this would be a great safety enhancement to helicopters."
— Rod Stone, Sandstone Aerial Service
Fly-by-Wire Ease of Use
"The fly-by-wire system means that the controls can be rate or attitude demand, depending on the position in the flight envelope. In and around the hover, it is rate demand: set a translational rate (including zero), let go of the cyclic, and the aircraft maintains the rate. In collective, set a radalt height and let go, height is maintained. Control can be either by moving the control with trim released, or by beep.
This would be very useful in SAR for operations next to for example a moving vessel. In up and away flight, the principle is similar, in that when the controls are released the aircraft will maintain the achieved flight path, which can subsequently be modified by beep or trim release. In effect this means automatic engagement of heading, speed and altitude holds at current values."We're excited to be on the cusp of launching the Bell 525 Relentless to the world and providing pilots everywhere an efficient flight experience that puts safety and situational awareness at the forefront of every mission.
— Steve O'Collard, Chief Technical Pilot, CHC Helicopter
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