An Air Resources Bell 407 at Heli-Expo 2015 in Orlando, Fla. The company will be the launch customer for the Eagle 407HP. Mike Reyno Photo
Air Resources Helicopters Inc. will be the launch customer for the newly certified Eagle 407HP, Eagle Copters announced on Wednesday.
The Murrieta, Calif.-based utility helicopter operator has signed two letters of intent for the 407HP conversion, which replaces the Rolls-Royce C47 engine in the Bell 407 with a Honeywell HTS900D-2. Eagle Copters and Air Resources hope to begin the first conversion this summer, after Eagle Copters certifies an inlet barrier filter for the 407HP.
Air Resources’ new owner and CEO, Sean Reid, told Vertical that he’s looking forward to the promise of improved hot-and-high performance in a proven airframe. As an operator of Heli-Lynx AS350 FX2s with Honeywell LTS101-700D-2 engines, Reid said he’s been “really happy” with both the engines and Honeywell’s support. At the same time, he said, “I’ve always been a big 407 fan.”
The announcement of a launch customer is a significant milestone for the 407HP, which achieved Transport Canada certification in December 2014 and U.S. Federal Aviation Administration certification in January. It comes just one day after Bell Helicopter announced its own performance boost for the Bell 407 in the form of the new Model 250 C47B/8 engine, which incorporates manufacturer Rolls-Royce’s value improvement package (VIP) upgrade.
Despite the increased OEM competition, Eagle Copters vice president Spyke Whiting expressed confidence that the 407HP will remain “the leader in its class” when it comes to high-altitude performance. And having a 407HP working in the field should help convince prospective customers that the aircraft can do what it promises, he said.
“When you get a pilot in there . . . that’s where the rubber will meet the road, no question,” said Whiting.
Honeywell’s Rick Buchanan echoed Whiting’s confidence in the 407HP’s superior performance, pointing out that the HTS900D-2 engine also boasts a dual-channel full authority digital engine control (FADEC) and substantial savings in fuel and direct maintenance costs. At the same time, he praised Eagle Copters’ careful approach to the 407HP’s design and certification, which he said has resulted in a “win-win-win all the way around” for Honeywell, Eagle Copters, and their customers.
“We’re excited to be working with Eagle,” he said. “They’re a first-rate organization.”
