Helicopters EASA certifies Bell 505 cargo hook

Helicopter manufacturer Bell has released, that EASA has approved the cargo hook for the Bell 505 helicopter.

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Bell Textron has announced, that the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has officially approved a latest enhancement for the Bell 505 helicopter. Now, operators can use a cargo hook with the aircraft that can carry up to 2,000 pounds.

“The cargo hook capabilities are an important enhancement for the aircraft and an added capability for utility and public safety operations,” said Duncan Van De Velde, managing director, Europe & Russia at Bell Textron. “The Bell 505 is built for versatility and being able to adapt quickly, and the cargo hook will be a great addition for our utility customers in Europe.”

With the latest approval, the aircraft will have an external gross weight capability of 4,475 pounds, which translates into 2,030 kg. In November of 2018, operator Storm Heliworks AB first tested out the cargo hook.

Dennis Sundqvist, deputy flight operating manager, Storm Heliworks, recalls: “Our experience with flying the 505 was very positive and proved to be excellent aircraft for our missions […] Cargo hooks are pertinent for our work. The Bell 505 is the strongest helicopter we’ve flown for its size and excited to see this added capability to the aircraft certified.”

The Bell 505 cargo hook can be used for a wide range of missions. Storm Heliworks is using the hook to build power lines, forest inspections, mosquito control or firefighting missions. North American based Rocky Mountain Rotors is using the cargo hook for Search and Rescue (SAR) missions in Montana.

“The Bell 505 is very diversified as far as the missions it can do,” said Mark Taylor, founder/co-owner/chief pilot, Rocky Mountain Rotors. “There’s been multiple times we’ve had to turn it into a cargo ship versus a passenger ship and most of those times its involved search and rescue. The performance of the helicopter is impressive.”

Bell Helicopter´s 505 was designed for operators to use the aircraft for a wide range of missions. And this latest approval underlines the versatility of it. The aircraft is capable of flying with a speed of 125 knots and useful load of 1,500 pounds.

Source © news.bellflight.com

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