Bell 407 Hydraulic Fixed Beam Cargo Hook Kit from Onboard Systems Receives Transport Canada Certification

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Onboard Systems, a leading provider of innovative helicopter cargo hook equipment, announced that its new fixed beam TALON® Hydraulic Cargo Hook kit for the Bell 407 aircraft has been STC certified by Transport Canada. This cargo hook kit was STC certified by the FAA in March 2013. Onboard has also submitted this system to EASA for certification in Europe.

Onboard’s hydraulic cargo hook kit for the Bell 407 aircraft improves upon the original fixed beam design that Onboard introduced in 2009 by providing the added load security of a TALON hydraulic cargo hook, as well as the ability for right or left hand pilot installation. “Our TALON hydraulic cargo hook kits are very effective at reducing inadvertent cargo releases," said Karsten Lemmon, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Onboard Systems. "This kit provides a cost-effective, technologically superior cargo hook system for the Bell 407 aircraft, along with flexible installation options. Excessive movement during external load operations can unintentionally activate an improperly rigged manual release cable on a cargo hook system, causing an inadvertent release of the load. Onboard's hydraulic cargo hook kits only open the hook when the pilot activates the release handle—snagging or damage to the cable will not lead to accidentally dropping the cargo."

An optional Onboard Weighing System for the new Bell 407 hydraulic cargo hook kit is also available and uses Onboard’s pin load cell technology. Pin load cells are designed to mount on one side of the hook by replacing the main attach bolt, rather than attaching as a separate link above the hook. This allows for increased ground clearance and easier cable routing and lower weight, while still allowing the pilot to know the exact weight of the load on the cargo hook to maximize load efficiency while reducing airframe stress.

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