Nearly a year after the fatal crash of a Bell 525 during a test flight, the program remains grounded. Last week, Bell Helicopter CEO Mitch Snyder said the 525 would be “back up to flight” in the near future.
“We continue to work on non-flight activities and the program is continuing to progress there,” Snyder said. “We continue to work closely with the NTSB and the FAA. We're preparing for flight. We expect to be in the air in the near term. That's pretty much what we can say right now. The aircraft are being built up in preparation. We have one aircraft that we are bringing back up on line, and then the second one will follow shortly after that.”

Neither of the remaining two test aircraft had engaged in ground runs during the stand down, he said. Two more test aircraft are being built at Bell's plant in Amarillo, Texas. One of those new aircraft would fly this year and the other early next year. “The current plan, assuming that we will be flying here pretty quick, is that we will get type certification by the end of next year and begin deliveries in early 2019,” he said.