Welcome to Vertical MRO Alerts, presented by Bell!

In this Alert, Product Support Engineering Manager Marc Dubé is joined by Sebastien Rousseau, Product Lead for the Bell 429, to walk operators through two service directives released simultaneously—a new Alert Service Bulletin (ASB 429-25-69) and an accompanying Operational Service Notice (OSN).

These directives address non-conforming crew and passenger seat covers installed on certain Bell 429 aircraft. Marc and Sebastien explain how additional foam added during cosmetic rework impacted the energy-attenuation performance of some crew seats, prompting a required crew-seat replacement under the ASB. Passenger seats, which carry lower criticality, are handled separately under the OSN.

The episode covers operator questions Bell has already received—including how third-party-modified seats are handled, what to expect regarding turnaround times, and why rework of passenger seats involves more logistical variables such as upholstery styles, stitching, colors, and custom configurations. They also discuss how operators can streamline the process by confirming interior renderings early and placing orders well ahead of the three-year compliance window.

For full details, operators should always refer directly to the official Alert Service Bulletin. 

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