Bell Helicopter has announced tweaks to the maintenance manual for its Bell 407 that will significantly reduce direct operating costs for the aircraft.
As part of an ongoing effort to reduce direct maintenance costs on the Bell 407 helicopter, Bell engineers have reevaluated life limited items listed in Maintenance Manual Chapter 4 to ensure operators are able to take full advantage of Bell products and more effectively operate their aircraft.
Bell has removed 14 items from the life limited section of the 407 Maintenance Manual. The removal of these items, plus an adjustment to the on-condition section, will result in a reduction of more than 12 per cent per flight hour to the published direct maintenance cost estimate, while maintaining the highest life level of stress margin.
"Bell Helicopters are used around the globe to perform noble missions, and it is our goal to provide our customers with the safest, most reliable and cost-effective mission solution," senior vice president and chief service officer, Danny Maldonado, said. "We recognise the importance of direct maintenance costs to ensuring a profitable mission for our customers. Through this effort we are able to reduce the cost of operating and maintaining the aircraft, without compromising safety."
"We are making every effort to ensure our aircraft remain competitive in the marketplace and that Bell operators are fully supported throughout the entire lifecycle of their aircraft."
A revision to the Bell 407 Maintenance Manual (Chapter 4) can be viewed by clicking here and logging in.
In mid-June Bell Helicopter reached a milestone by delivering its 1000th 407. Hawker Pacific is the local agent for Bell in Australia.