Erickson and Bell sign certificate transfer deal for Bell 214ST and B / B1 helicopters
Erickson Inc. and Bell Textron Inc. have signed an agreement to start the transfer of type certificates for the 214ST and B / B1 helicopters from Bell to Erickson
The new agreements, which will hopefully be completed by the end of 2020, replace the previous licence and product support deal that the two companies made in 2015. Erickson operates a large fleet of 214STs and is well placed to introduce performance improvements and further the operational sustainability of the platform. It is going to work with Bell to transfer the key functions and processes remaining to enable full support of the type certificates.
Doug Kitani, CEO of Erickson, commented on the agreement: “The 214 is a great utility rotary-wing platform. We look forward to applying our innovative spirit and operational experience to chart a future for the aircraft like we have done with the S-64 Air Crane helicopter over the past 30 years. The 214 models represent an outstanding complement to the Erickson portfolio of supported aircraft.
Bell 412 popularity continues to grow
The Bell 412 is used by private and commercial operators, and is particularly popular in the oil industries, military, and for law enforcement use, along with HEMS, troop transport and energy companies. In the US, operators include the Fire Departments of Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami-Dade, Orange County and San Diego, as well as the Police Departments of Virginia, New York City and Delaware. The New York Police Department currently has three Bell 412s in service, which perform missions include search and rescue and intelligence gathering.
The popularity of the Bell 412 continues to expand as its operational field widens, with several providers investing in the helicopter model to boost their aerial firefighting capabilities, including Transwest Helicopters and two prefectures in Japan.