Bell Helicopter announced in mid-March that Helisul Taxi Aéreo had ordered a new Bell 429WLG and also signed purchase agreements for three new Bell 505 Jet Ranger X aircraft at Heli-Expo 2014, the Helicopter Association International convention held in Anaheim, California, 24 through 27 February. This was part of the nearly 200 total agreements announced at the end of the show by the Fort Worth, Texas-based manufacturer.
“The Bell 429, in addition to its comfort and state-of-the-art technology, provides the capability of multi-mission operations associated with a low operational cost,” said Helisul President Eloy Biesuz. “These features align very well with our operational needs.”
Based in Foz do Iguaçu, Helisul Taxi Aéreo is the largest air taxi company in Brazil and one of the largest in the world. Featuring a fleet of nearly 50 aircraft, Helisul flies multiple missions, including tourism and VIP, from a diversity of locations, including Foz do Iguaçu, Florianópolis and Curitiba (State of Paraná) and Rio de Janeiro.
“The Bell 429 is an incomparable aircraft, featuring a glass cockpit, luxury seating and superior speed and performance,” said Jay Ortiz, Bell Helicopter’s managing director of Latin America commercial business. “We are excited Helisul can now provide customers with a smooth, quiet ride in one of the most spacious and luxurious cabins available. We also look forward to them being one of the first companies to begin operating the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X in the near future.”
According to the manufacturer, the Bell 429 is one of the most advanced light twin helicopters ever developed, delivering exceptional speed, range and hover performance, as well as comfort and cost management unmatched by any other aircraft in its category. It is highly configurable and delivers a range of 380 miles and cruise speed of 153 knots, making it the ideal choice for multi-mission needs. It is approved for an increased gross weight of 7,500 pounds in 18 countries, including Brazil.
The Bell 505 Jet Ranger X is a five-seat, single-engine, turbine helicopter leveraging Bell Helicopter’s proven technology and nearly half a century of experience defining the SLS market with the original Bell JetRanger. With a cruise speed of 125 knots, range of 360 nautical miles and useful load of 1,500 pounds, the Bell 505 is designed to be the safest and easiest aircraft to fly in its category while still remaining affordably priced.
One month after the agreement was inked in Anaheim, both types were first exhibited in South America at the traditional Chilean air show, FIDAE 2014 (see “Bell Helicopter listens to a relevant market at FIDAE 2014”).
Sources: Bell Helicopter, Helicopter Association International and Helisul Taxi Aéreo.
