Emergency Response Aircraft First To Be Equipped In That Country

The Japan Civil Aviation Bureau has approved the BLR Aerospace FastFin Tail Rotor Enhancement and Stability System for installation on Bell 412EP helicopters.

Nagano FFDR (Fire Fighting, Disaster, Relief, and Rescue) has selected the FastFin System for its Bell 412EP helicopter and will become the nation's first operator to install and use the system. Nagano FFDR performs challenging firefighting missions in Nagano prefecture and rescue missions in the Japan Alps, where elevations reach 10,000 feet. Mitsui Bussan Aerospace Co., Ltd. is the sole authorized distributor for the FastFin System in Japan.
 
Certified performance data show that Bell 412s equipped with FastFin can carry up to 91 percent (1250 pounds) more useful load than a standard aircraft.
 
"We welcome Nagano FFDR to the growing family of FastFin operators worldwide who are realizing significant improvements in useful load, stability and return on investment," said Dave Marone, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at BLR Aerospace. "Market acceptance continues to be strong in a wide range of markets as today's operators look for every competitive advantage."
 
Bell Helicopter installs FastFin as standard equipment on all new Bell 412 EPs. The FastFin System includes two parallel stall strips, known as Dual Tail Boom Strakes, on the tail boom and a reshaped vertical fin. FastFin optimizes air­flow around the tail boom, dramatically improving tail rotor efficiency and wind azimuth tolerance. FastFin also improves aircraft stability, positively impacting operating costs and cycle fatigue in structures and demands on tail rotor rotating components.

(Image courtesy BLR Aerospace)

FMI: www.blraerospace.com