Bell Helicopter is now aiming to have the 505 Jet Ranger X certified by the FAA in the first half of next year, as the three test aircraft have thus far logged 485 flight hours and another 115 on the ground. The first 505, FTV1, has been flying since last November, and both FTV2 and FTV3 entered the test fleet earlier this year.

The Texas-based helicopter manufacturer plans a rapid production ramp up that could see 200 of the light turbine singles being manufactured per year by 2018, according to program manager David Smith. “We feel confident that we will be able to sustain 200 aircraft a year [production] for a considerable period of time even in this market,” he told AIN. Bell currently holds letters of intent for 354 of the approximately $1 million helicopters.

Smith said some option kits for the aircraft are already in flight-test. “We’ve got the first round of kits mostly mature and in certification testing, many are installed on the third test aircraft and include HTaws, synthetic vision, a second VHF com, ELT and standby altimeter. Those are close to being certified. There are a slew of kits just behind that, including HF antennas and a second integrated navcom, and we are working with the makers of autopilot systems and emergency floats,” he added.