Story ID: 369
Meridian Completes Full Bell 206L4 Refurbishment 
By: Charles Alcock
Caption: The model Meridian delivered to New York Helicopter Charter has a fully overhauled engine, new avionics, and equipment including wire strike protection.
Word Count: 208
Meridian Helicopters has delivered another fully refurbished Bell 206L4 to New York Helicopter Charter. The Louisiana-based company has now completed two dozen of the complete refurbishments of the single-engine rotorcraft, with the Part 135 charter operator adding a 1997 model to its Kearny, New Jersey-based fleet.
The refurbishment work included overhauling the Bell 206L4’s Rolls-Royce 250-C30P engine and dynamic components, extending the service life of the helicopter. The airframe was stripped and repainted in a three-tone finish that matches the cabin’s new leather seats.
The helicopter’s cockpit now features a new Garmin avionics suite and Bluetooth technology, as well as an environmental control system from Air Comm. Other new features include wire strike protection, an inlet particle separator, and a lightweight pop-out float system.
New York Helicopter Charter now operates three of the refurbished 206L4s. “We are ecstatic with all our ships that came from Meridian Helicopters,” commented managing partner Michael Bashlor. “All details starting from inside to outside of the ships are impeccable.”
Meridian Helicopters is part of Canada-based Cadorath group (Booth C4120). It also owns facilities in Orion, Illinois, and Bettendorf, Iowa.