Is this not precisely what is being proposed? Eurocopter, ahem, airbus helicopters is just irritated because the 429 would make immediate use of such a change.

Sans, how's that for bending the rules.
You cannot increase your gross weight because you screwed up your certification process (or you thought you had it in the suitcase "A la Bell 210"), so now you campaign (I wonder which Rep or Sen is getting free vacations) to actually change the rules in your favor.

What if instead, let's sake for sake of safety and other issues, EC and AW campaign to bring the bottom of Pt29 down to 6000lbs or even 5000lbs, why does progress need to mean heavier helicopters rather than safer and better performing ones.

Let's all step back to get a wider perspective and let's call a spade a spade.

Piston or turbine? One engine or two? Glass or polycarb windshields?

Really don't think weight has anything to do with safety?

Not in the way you infer it.
Weight is a penalty for ADDING features to an airframe that was not designed with them.
A healthy NEW design incorporating those feature from the start should have adequate performance built in from the beginning.

Unless you are talking about flying EMS in the USA in a Bell 206L-1.

Somebody did that, it's called the 429. What other new design Part 27 twin engine SPIFR airframes have been built to the latest ammendment levels?

Not possible given the current state of technology and regulatory requirements.

Two EMS for Turkey
 

http://www.bellhelicopter.com/en_US/...4-43c9106e0e4e


Cheers

Two EMS for Turkey
 

well, any older than that, and they would've had some serious weight issues...

More EMS Bell 429 in Europe
 

http://www.bellhelicopter.com/en_US/...f-2834b15666e8

and of course this week's European Helicopter Show in Czech Republic has Air Transport Europe's first Bell 429 making an appearance.

Cheers

429/135t2e/ performance specs using standardized performance assumptions
 

Looked thru the posts from the beginning and thought there would have been one fact seeking minded pilot from B429 camp and EC135 camp to clarify and publish numbers on performance capabilities, based on standardized parameters.... Forget the marketing propaganda in brochures etc... And the heel snipping in 20+ pages of posts here...

I live in an ISA+25c (SL to 3000m) environment year round and like to see comparison from the respective approved AFM/POH.

If anyone will share the performance chapters with me, I have a standardized performance sheet waiting to be filled in...

Dont have the aircraft available here for real world hands on data, so this data gathering technique needs to suffice for now.

Thanks to those here who understand this is an analytical comparison, nothing more nothing less...

If anyone would like to share EC 145, much appreciated....

I am not interested in ISA numbers .....ISA+25c and the MTGWT (and MTGWT less 250kg) to be used....IGE-OGE/AEO/OEI..... Service ceiling AEO/OEI.... And for Max cruise /recommended cruise speed/range/burn for ISA+25 SL/2000'/6000' PA... endurance data...

I'm sure someone can give you those numbers, but you state you're in Asia.... if you're in Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Thailand, or Vietnam, you are able to get the 7,500 lbs. IGW.

So you may want to clarify if you want the numbers that way or not.

Thanks for the reminder, the IGW 3402kg/7500lb is acceptable as TCA/EASA/FAA are recognized for TC validation here

Having worked both sides of the line flying and senior management, I understand the struggle of matching costs and capabilities.... And getting the narrower minded non aviation illiterate clients to pay for a safer product...

Almost every product can perform well within a certain defined envelope.

Thanks in advance for those who are really interested to see the numbers and will assist...

Fly safe

Thanks for the reminder, the IGW 3402kg/7500lb is acceptable as TCA/EASA/FAA are recognized for TC validation here

Having worked both sides of the line flying and senior management, I understand the struggle of matching costs and capabilities.... And getting the narrower minded non aviation illiterate clients to pay for a safer product...

Almost every product can perform well within a certain defined envelope.

Thanks in advance for those who are really interested to see the numbers and will assist...

Fly safe

My apologies my fingers too big for typing on a tablet... I entered ISA+25 in error , ISA+20c is the correct number I want used...

Thanks,

Bell 429
 

We got a visit from Bell to give us a Demo of the 429 and I was lucky enough to sit in the front and fly it. Incredible aircraft, easy to fly, smooth, reached VNE easily, torque did not blink hovering with 15kt tail wind. Everything great...except the payload. With our current airframe we have 900kg payload. With the 429 would be circa...900kg maybe a little less.

Bottom line: the 429 needs those extra 500lb badly to make a difference. You can not offer with a 4 years old aircraft what the likes of 109's and 135's have been doing for decades. At the end, clients will not switch aircraft just for the fancy, but for increased performance.

A pity Bell did not chose to go with part 29 from the beginning. The harm is done by now

Rebooting to a different OEM / airframe system has got to have significant points in its favor to do so. Hard sell to make with your environmental conditions.

Pose this question to you and any others interested in responding. What if you did not have to justify a switch ...that you were doing a new startup with no other similar OEM models operating in your region with an ISA+20 to deal with year round and you needed max possible payload?. Where would you lean, 109/135/429/145?

Thorondor...you are right of course. It you need to factor in the incredible deals Bell are offering to get the 429 into the market. Wilts Air Ambulance is probably a good example.

More customers Swedish National Police at al
 

More European customers such as the Swedish National Police ordering 7 and INAER ops in France ordering an EMS (making it the first airframe to be sold in France)

http://bellhelicopter.com/en_US/News...e-ed6222c55c31

Funnily enough replacing their EC135 fleet as back in 2012, the Polis decided for a new airframe and they still have an AB206 III for training.

http://bellhelicopter.com/en_US/News...3-cec30825ee56

Heli Securitie also appears to have ordered one according to their web (scroll down the fleet) as in coming soon

http://www.helicopter-saint-tropez.com/fleet.php


and also at the ALEA conference, there was the first 429 for the Goergia State Police handed over,

Cheers

Bell 429 EMS demonstrator -Farnborough
 

Also from Farnborough, the EMS demonstrator which went around Europe, courtesy of Bell and Heli Charter UK , so here's my glimpse up close and personal,

Cheers

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...ps6840fec9.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...pse7f2c014.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...pse1e259c1.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...pscc213a28.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...ps993ee134.jpg

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...psc18f600e.jpg

My two pence
 

Dont forget the Isle of Man registry, they accept the Manufacturers TCDS, so no problem with the IGW, only problem is, they dont do AOC on the registry.
So for Private owners, this is great !

Bell 429 for Mid East
 

http://bellhelicopter.com/en_US/News...c-01aff758b873

Cheers