BLR Aerospace received U.S. FAA STC approval last week for its FastFin tail rotor enhancement and stability system for installation on the single-engine Airbus Helicopters H125. Additional certifications from the EASA, Transport Canada and Brazil’s Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC) are expected to follow by year-end.
FastFin is now available both as an aftermarket option on pre-owned helicopters and as a factory-installed STC option on new H125s. FastFin uses advanced airflow management to increase the effectiveness of the H125 anti-torque system and yields certified performance improvements, including up to 130 pounds increased useful load and a 10-percent improvement in pedal margins. BLR said additional benefits include a reduction in pilot workload, easier control in precision hover-hold operations and better management of the yaw axis when hovering in challenging crosswinds.
Though they are based on the same aerodynamic principles, the H125 FastFin differs from BLR’s flagship product for medium Bell helicopters in that it does not modify the vertical fin, but rather is composed of an advanced tailboom aerodynamic cowling, a tailboom strake and vortex generators.