Throttle...Blottle...Collective....Thrust Lever....ah heck...I am getting confused! The machine will be a real improvement on the longer legs for sure.....but it will really need to carry more pax to be really useful. The infrastructure will have to change to accomodate it as well. I can just see the PHI/Air Log guys scudrunning at 250-300 knots. Until the FAA accepts, and the helicopter industy matures, it will be a very scary thought to think of the 609 scooting around in the same manner the Gulf boys operate now. At least the 609 should be able to fly high enough to maintain radio contact with the FAA for the first bit offshore but the problems with communication will continue until the FAA gets involved with repeaters offshore sufficient to cover the entire gulf area.
A second thought is how companies that have a Jetranger mindset will be able to handle a complex aircraft like the 609?