Rotorcraft
FAA Dismisses Appeal Seeking Bell 429 Weight Increase
Agency said exemption would give Bell an unfair competitive advantage and could compromise safety.

On October 17 the FAA formally rejected Bell Helicopter’s appeal of a 2012 agency decision denying the company a type certification exemption to the 7,000-pound maximum weight limit under FAR Part 27 (normal-category rotorcraft) for the Bell 429 light twin. Bell certified the helicopter under Part 27 in 2009 and has delivered more than 200 since.