Onboard Systems International, Inc., a leading provider of innovative helicopter cargo hook equipment, today announced that its non-rotating cargo hook kits for the Bell 204, 205, 212 & 412 aircraft have received certification from Transport Canada. Onboard received FAA certification for these cargo hook kits in December 2015; EASA certification for Europe is still pending.

“We’re pleased to be able to respond to the requests for certification from our Canadian customers who want to install Onboard’s non-rotating cargo hook kits on their Bell 204, 205, 212 and 412 aircraft,” said Karsten Lemmon, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Onboard Systems. “These new cargo hook systems are designed specifically for operators whose external load missions require non-rotating loads, such as back burning, fertilizer spreading, and firefighting, to name a few. Between the simplified design, reduced total part count, and extended service intervals, we are confident that our non-rotating cargo hook kits will be well-received by external load operators of these Bell aircraft.”

Onboard’s non-rotating cargo hook systems are designed to reduce ongoing maintenance expenses and lifetime cost of ownership as compared to previous designs. The cargo hook kits feature stainless steel tension straps instead of the cables used on other non-rotating cargo systems. The straps are easier to inspect than cables, which tend to fail in fatigue from the inside out under torsion. The stainless steel straps share the load equally, regardless of the amount of twist in the suspension system, increasing load safety and product longevity. In addition, the manual and electrical release cables are routed within a rugged conduit for maximum protection, and the low-friction bumper ring results in less twisting as the bumper contacts the airframe, reducing torque inputs to the hardpoint.

The non-rotating cargo hook kits come with the extended Time Between Overhaul (TBO) requirement of six years or 1,500 hours. The non-rotating cargo hook kits can be configured with a variety of options and upgrades, including Onboard’s new Surefire™ cargo hook release technology. The Surefire circuit requires a purposeful, half-second press against the button to guard against an inadvertent release caused by accidental contact during flight. In addition to the Surefire option, there are also kit options for an integrated Onboard Weighing System, which allows pilots to instantly know the weight of the cargo on the hook, reducing the risk of overload airframe stress and helps the pilot make more informed aircraft loading decisions. An optional NVG backlighting system for the cockpit indicator is available as well.