Bell engineers have finished a

certification programme which

increases the internal gross weight

limit for the 206B JetRanger to

3,350lbs, an increase of 150lbs.

The company says takeoff at the

higher gross weight will require an

initial airspeed reduction until a

corresponding amount of fuel is

consumed. It also states that the

improvements will be retrofittable to

most of the 1,714 JetRangers currently

in the field.

Bell Helicopter will be issuing a

technical bulletin or information

letter to confirm and introduce the

STC, consisting of a flight manual

supplement and a revised airspeed

placard for the crew station.