Bell 429 operators continue to give positive feedback about the new light twin as it enters its second year in service. Bell manufactured more than 30 of the helicopters last year and completed customer kit options. The company continues to develop a version with wheeled landing gear, to remove weight from the 429 both in the manufacturing process and by pursuing regulatory solutions, and it plans to produce more than 80 units by the end of this year.
Late last year Bell received wide area augmentation system (Waas) approval for the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW207D1-powered twin. The approval allows the 429 to be flown to point-in-space approaches when the cloud ceiling is as low as 250 feet agl, and to conduct steep (nine degrees) localizer precision and vertical guidance (LPV) approaches at a minimum velocity for instrument approaches (Vmini) of 45 knots. The company maintains that the 429 is the only helicopter in its class capable of performing a fully coupled four-axis autopilot LPV approach, a big selling point for EMS customers.
