Ametek Ameron wins contract for fire suppressant systems aboard Bell Relentless 525 helicopters

Ameron Mass Systems, a unit of AMETEK Aerospace & Defense and a pioneer in the development of high-performance aerospace and defense components, has been selected by Bell Helicopter, a Textron, Inc. company, to provide the cargo and engine bay fire suppressant systems for the new Bell 525 Relentless commercial super-medium helicopter.

Mass Systems, the OEM division of AMETEK Ameron, developed a specialized solution to meet the superior safety requirements of the Bell 525 Relentless. “The Cargo Bay Fire Suppressant System we developed for the Bell 525 Relentless is a patent-pending system that is the first of its kind installed on any aircraft. The system features uniquely operating fire bottles that are manufactured and assembled at our California facility,” comments Keith Marsicola, Divisional Vice President at AMETEK Ameron.

“We take pride as a business in developing new and innovative ways to improve existing products and technologies. We are confident that following the launch on the Bell 525 Relentless, other aircraft manufacturers will quickly adopt our new fire suppressant systems for their enhanced safety features,” he adds.

The selection of Ameron Mass Systems for the fire suppression systems serves as a testament to the positive, on-going relationship that Ameron has with Bell Helicopter, having worked previously with Bell on the Bell 427 and H1 helicopter platforms as well as on the joint Bell and Boeing V22 tilt-rotor Osprey aircraft.

The Bell 525 Relentless allows for up to 20 passengers and can cruise distances up to 500 nautical miles, making it well suited for various offshore deep water missions, as well as firefighting, law enforcement and VIP operations.