The Bell 206B VHA Composite Main Rotor Blade (High Visibility Black & White) use the same carbon fiber materials and construction methods as VHA's 206B/L tail rotor blades, which have been available as an STC/PMA aftermarket component since 2009. Both blades feature carbon fiber skin and spars, an efficient NASA-designed laminar-flow airfoil, and tapered tip. The main rotor blade also contains stainless steel and nickel abrasion strips that cover the entire length of the blade for erosion and lightning strike protection. A single trim tab facilitates the track-and-balance process. These main rotor blades use the identical installation configuration as the OEM blades, allowing direct replacement without hub modification. The blades feature an 18,000-hour service life (more than triple the life of the OEM blade).