U.S.-Europe upset with Transport Canada over helicopter weight exemption

OTTAWA – The Harper government’s decision to grant Bell Helicopter Canada a special weight exemption for one its aircraft put a severe strain on relations between Transport Canada and aviation safety regulators in both the U.S. and Europe.

Internal documents show the declaration involving the Bell model 429 was made over the strenuous objections of both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the U.S. and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Documents obtained by The Canadian Press under access to information legislation showed both international agencies felt sandbagged prior to the easing of the weight restriction in December 2011.

The adjustment — now the subject of a court challenge — increased the maximum weight limit to 3,400 kilograms and allowed Bell to enter and recently win a $172-million contract to provide 15 light helicopters to the coast guard.

Emails between the agencies say the exception may have given Bell a competitive advantage in more than a dozen other countries around the world.

Bell President Barry Kohler says his company is not the only one that has been granted weight exemptions at one time or another.