Bell Textron has yet to conduct ground tests needed before the Bell 525 Relentless helicopter can begin the function and reliability testing phase with the FAA, says Mike Deslatte, senior vice president for the Bell 525 program.
When it enters into service, the medium twin will be the first civil rotorcraft with fly-by-wire controls and may thus bring a significant safety improvement to the industry. Development, however, has suffered delays since the program announcement in 2012, including the fatal crash of a prototype in 2016.
With a 19-seat capacity, the Bell 525 mainly targets the operators of offshore oil and gas flights.
“The 525 certification effort is ongoing,” Deslatte said, speaking at a briefing here at the Paris Air Show on June 17. “A handful of tests are remaining.”
These tests consist of laboratory assessments of the flight control system and avionics, Deslatte said.
Then, function and reliability testing—the final phase of the work with the FAA before type certification—can begin. It will include 150 flight hours that will replicate real-world missions, with FAA pilots on board, Deslatte said. He would not predict when the Bell 525 would receive its type certificate.
