Onboard Systems International, a provider of innovative helicopter cargo hook equipment, has announced that its dual cargo hook kits for the Bell 206L and 407 aircraft have been STC certified by the FAA. These cargo hook systems meet the 14 CFR part 27 certification requirements for human external cargo (HEC) and have been designed as a dual installation of Onboard's Talon LC hydraulic hook.

“These kits provide an STC-certified solution for a variety of CFR Part 133 external load missions, including HEC, high-value cargo transport, utility line work, short haul and search and rescue," says Karsten Lemmon, vice president of sales and marketing for Onboard Systems. “Ever since we launched our first HEC cargo hook kit for the MD500 last year, our powerline and utility customers have been eagerly awaiting these Bell cargo hook kits, as many of them use the 206L and the 407 for their missions. We look forward to adding more HEC kits to our product lineup for additional aircraft very soon."

Onboard's newly certified dual cargo hook systems include a single kit for the Bell 206L (P/N 200-465-00), as well as separate kits for both left seat (P/N 200-456-00) and right seat (P/N 200-456-01) operations for the Bell 407. In addition, an onboard weighing system (P/N 200-464-00) is available for use with any of the Bell dual cargo hook kits, which are approved for use on the 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, 206L-4 and 407 models as listed on the Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS) H2SW. Onboard Systems partnered with Aerocraft, Inc. to develop and certify the dual hook system.

The kits feature a user-friendly dual master cylinder that combines the backup hydraulic release for both hooks along with the electrical release for the secondary hook into a single unit. For added safety, Onboard's certified HEC kits use Talon LC hydraulic cargo hooks to minimise the risk of inadvertent cargo releases caused by excessive movement during external load operations, which can activate an improperly rigged manual release cable on a cargo hook system.

In conjunction with the dual cargo hook kits, Onboard Systems is also offering HEC longline kits in several lengths that include many essential components for properly rigging an aircraft to carry human external cargo, including a Y-rope, a rigging plate, longline, weight bag, lanyard and carabiners. Onboard's Y-rope (P/N 490-019-00) is required when conducting HEC missions using Onboard's Bell 206L or 407 dual cargo hook kits, as it provides a controlled interface between the primary and secondary cargo hooks and the longline. Alternative configurations or components may also be approved for use through the local aviation authority.