Bell launches green drive as defense sales soften slump
Bell Helicopter has announced plans to reduce the environmental footprint of its products through the new Eco-Innovation initiative that will evaluate them

Bell Helicopter has announced plans to reduce the environmental footprint of its products through the new Eco-Innovation initiative that will evaluate them throughout every stage of their lifecycle. The process will start with an assessment of the environmental impact of mining the raw materials used to manufacture the aircraft right through to the end of their service life.

The U.S. airframer’s new Bell 429 twin is the first of its helicopters to come under the scrutiny of Eco-Innovation, which is being run by Craig Lieberman. The aim is to identify ways to make the aircraft more environmentally friendly in every respect. The 429 already meets Stage 3 noise limits and delivers reduced fuel consumption, partly from increased use of composite materials to reduce weight.