GPMS International and Bell Textron have been granted a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) by the FAA for GPMS’s Foresight MX, the health and usage monitoring system (HUMS), on the Bell 407 Analog platform. California-based PJ Helicopters assisted in the certification process to introduce Foresight MX HUMS into its operations.
The new STC certification follows the certification for the Bell 407 GX/GXP/GXi platform in January. Certification of the Bell 407 Analog platform is vital, as it is widely used in public safety missions by customers like PJ Helicopters in utility, powerline and construction operations, which often include “low and slow” flight regimes which require reliable and safe aircraft performance.
Bret Finney, Manager of Aftermarket Sales, Bell, said: “PJ Helicopters’ assistance in the certification process was extremely valuable, and thanks to their help, nearly 1,000 Bell 407 Analogs operating around the world can now benefit from Foresight’s comprehensive and predictive HUMS capabilities.”
“Our 15 Bell 407s are the workhorses of our fleet,” said David McCammon, Director of Operations, PJ Helicopters, “with Foresight MX, we now have valuable insight into the performance and health of our aircraft and their components. It’ll allow us to further enhance the safety of operations and reduce our direct operating costs.”
Ronnie Ries, VP of Marketing, GPMS, added: “With the latest STC, over 1,600 factory-delivered Bell 407s can receive the benefits of Foresight’s advanced analytics. With deep insights into the health, trends and predicted remaining useful life of components, Bell’s recognised product support is further enhanced, and customers will benefit from increased aircraft availability and lower DOCs.”
