INDUSTRY NEWS RELEVANT TO YOUR BUSINESS


EASA OKs BLR Aerospace FastFin System for Bell 212 Helicopters


The European Aviation Safety Agency has certified the FastFin® Tail Rotor Enhancement and Stability System for installation and flight on Bell 212 helicopters. Certification for Bell 204s and 205s is imminent, and EASA certi­ fication of BLR’s best­selling Bell 412 FastFin System is in work. European operators of these Bell medium helicopters may now join their North American counterparts in realizing signifi­ cant performance improve­ ments in hover load, wind azimuth tolerance, hover stabili­ ty and safety. In 2009, Rotor & Wing magazine recognized FastFin with its Editors’ Choice award for best safety enhance­ ment.


“With FastFin installed, most operators will enjoy a 10­15 per­ cent increase in useful load,” said Dave Marone, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for BLR Aerospace. “From the snow­cov­ ered Austrian Alps to the hot­ high environment of Southern Europe, operators can expect marked improvements in safety and reduced pilot workload.” The system includes two parallel stall strips, known as Dual Tailboom Strakes, on the tailboom and a reshaped verti­ cal fin. FastFin optimizes air ­ flow around the tailboom, dra­ matically improving tail rotor efficiency and wind azimuth tolerance. It also reduces oper­ ating costs and reduces cycle fatigue. ◆


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