Power Company Will Use The Aircraft For Powerline Inspections, Maintenance

National Grid Electricity Transmission Plc in the U.K has purchased the first Bell 429 to be operated in Great Britain, Bell Helicopter said in a news release Thursday. The aircraft will be used for inspection and maintenance of power lines. "We required a versatile and reliable aircraft to support our mission, which is providing power to millions of people in the UK. We selected the Bell 429 for its unmatched ability to operate in challenging conditions and for its reduced maintenance costs," said Mike Hannon, field support manager at National Grid.

National Grid formally accepted the Bell 429 in Mirabel, Canada at Bell Helicopter's commercial manufacturing facility. Final delivery of the aircraft will take place upon completion of EASA approved customizations at Bell Helicopter's European headquarters in Prague. National Grid's Bell 429 includes an operator workstation in the cabin of the aircraft featuring: SyQuest 20" HD display, MX-10 control unit, HD Nano Flash recorder, USB hub ports and keyboard.

"National Grid's selection of the Bell 429 represents a successful collaboration between its team of experts and Bell Helicopter," said Danny Maldonado, executive vice president of Sales and Marketing at Bell Helicopter. "The dedication of Bell Helicopter to develop the most suitable solution for National Grid's mission has been instrumental through the evaluation process. It reflects our commitment to the European market and our ability to provide the right products for our customers."

National Grid, an international electricity and gas company, is one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world. National Grid delivers gas and electricity to millions across Great Britain and the northeastern United States. They use helicopters to survey and repair power lines and pipelines throughout their expansive power network.

"National Grid's decision to purchase the Bell 429 was driven by the aircraft's versatility, speed and cost efficiency. We are proud to count National Grid as one of our Bell 429 customers in Europe and we are committed to providing them with the best service and support in the rotorcraft industry," said Patrick Moulay, managing director, Commercial Business for Bell Helicopter in Europe.

(Bell 429 image from file)

FMI: www.bellhelicopter.com