NN reported:
A Eurocopter flight test engineer I once spoke to was happy to admit that the reason for the reduction in xwind limit above 18410 was simply that they didn't want to spend the time (and money) re-certifying all those limits and so made do with the minimum permitted xwind limit which is apparently 17 kts.
Nick sez:
That sounds a bit fishy, NN, because the team had to test at the higher weight at 17 knots sideward flight to certify (increase in weight or altitude is never a gimmie), and to go to 35 knots takes a few more data points, and about 15 minutes more test time, literally. They are already set up and in position, and have taken the 17 knot point, so there is no increase in bother. I'll ask my TP friends at Eurocopter to find out, as well.