Bell Textron Company, which produced Subaru Bell 412EPX helicopters for the Ministry of Interior of Sarajevo Canton, announced that the aircraft will be delivered to Prague on July 31 of this year, and then to Sarajevo.
Bell Textron Company explained in a letter to the supplier that there was a slight delay compared to the expected delivery deadline due to the certification process.
They stated that the delay is related to the certification process by the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States (FAA). Bell delivered all necessary documentation for the issuance of a Type Certificate (TC), including the Required Flight Manual Supplement (RFMS).
However, the FAA requested additional explanation regarding the Night Vision Goggle Kit Certificate (NVG), which is integrated into the Sarajevo Canton Ministry of Interior helicopter. Since Bell is not the owner of this certificate, the company could not directly answer the FAA’s technical queries.
The responsibility for responding to these questions lies with the NVG Kit supplier, who is working closely with the FAA to provide the requested explanations. Bell explained that this situation has caused slight, unexpected delays in the approval of the Type C Certificate for the helicopter, which is a prerequisite for transport to Europe.
“We are actively managing this situation and maintaining close communication with all involved parties to minimize the consequences of the delay as much as possible. Based on the currently available information and our ongoing efforts to enable process improvements, Bell Company proposes a delay in delivery and acceptance, with Site Acceptance now scheduled for July 31, 2026,” stated Bell Textron Company.
The Ministry of Interior of Sarajevo Canton will continue to closely track and monitor this process and, through constant communication with the supplier and manufacturer, will make every effort to ensure the fastest possible delivery of the aircraft. In this context, discussions have also been held with the Embassy of the United States in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is also monitoring the entire aircraft delivery process.
