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Jet Aviation Australia

Bell 429

Press Release

Issued by Jet Aviation Australia.

January 18, 2012

Hawker Pacific announces performance boost for Bell Helicopter's 429

Hawker Pacific, Asia Pacific's leading aircraft sales, services and product support company is pleased to announce Bell Helicopter's recent approval by Transport Canada for a 500 lbs. weight increase of the Bell 429, increasing its maximum gross weight to 7,500 lbs.

Hawker Pacific's Senior Vice President, Aircraft Sales & Flight Services Group, Tony Jones said: "This approval directly translates to greater range and/or payload for the 429, and is great news for our customers and future customers in the region."

"The Bell 429 was built to target a larger market, with its light frame and versatile interior, and the gross weight increase will further grow its appeal as a multi-use aircraft in the region – which has already proved valuable for corporate and special mission uses."

"The news also follows a Bell 429 corporate order in Australia recently signed by Hawker Pacific. We now have a Bell 429 in service in New Zealand and will have five aircraft operating in Australia by the middle of this year."

The Bell 429 is certified for Single or Dual Pilot IFR, Cat. A / JAROPS Performance Class 1 at maximum gross weight; has a state-of-the-art, fully-integrated glass cockpit; an advanced drive system that delivers power and superb performance; best in class WAAS navigation and IFR capability; and is the first helicopter certified through the MSG-3 process. The additional gross weight now permits operators to equip the Bell 429 with additional options including Helicopter Terrain Awareness Warning System (HTAWS), a radar altimeter, cockpit voice/flight data recorder and strobe lights.

"The gross weight increase has been eagerly anticipated in the marketplace and will continue fuelling demand, further enhancing the aircraft's features of versatility, low direct operating costs and large cabin space," Tony Jones said.

The weight deviation improvement will have the capability to be retrofitted to the existing fleet through the installation of a minimal kit that will be available through Bell Helicopter. Additionally, the manufacturer will issue the necessary changes to the flight manual to correspond with the additional weight capacity. This information will be made available through Hawker Pacific, the official sales representative and local face of Bell Helicopter in the region.

The Bell 429 will be on show at the 2012 Heli & UV Pacific Exhibition and Conference, RACV Royal Pines Resort, Queensland on 23-24 May.