Bell Helicopter says the first in a highly common family of commercial helicopters developed under its Modular Affordable Product Line (MAPL) initiative will be certificated by the end of the decade. Under MAPL, the company is designing a new light turbine single, light twin and intermediate twin to be produced at its Canadian plant.
Goals for MAPL include a 20% productivity improvement through higher speed and useful load; a 20% reduction in operating costs; a 10dB noise reduction; and 99% dispatch reliability. Technology maturation for the main rotor, drive train, autopilot and noise control is under way. Chief executive Mike Redenbaugh says three- and five-blade main rotors and both a tail fan and advanced tailrotor are under study.
Seven technologies will be applied to the upgraded 427IFR light twin to be certificated in late 2006, he says. Bell delivered 97 commercial helicopters last year - 62 light singles, seven light twins and eight intermediate twins, plus 20 Model 412 medium twins.
Source: Flight International
