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June 24, 2009
Bell 429 Impresses Visitors at Paris Air Show
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The 429 flew demonstration flights throughout the Paris Air Show. |
Visitors who travel to Paris see the Eiffel Tower. Visitors who came this year to the Paris Air Show saw Bell’s 429 helicopter. Bell also made several announcements at the Paris Air Show that highlighted its customer loyalty and the global reach of its products.
Expected to be certified by the end of June, the 429 is Bell’s new light twin that has received a great deal of attention from customers and the media alike. In all, Bell has more than 300 letters of intent from customers, with about 60 percent of those orders coming from international customers.
429 is an impressive ride
The reviews from customers and journalists who had an opportunity to take a demonstration flight raved about the experience. “Everyone who comes in contact with the helicopter comments on the size of the cabin and its flexibility,” says Neil Marshall, program director for the 429. “And those who have been fortunate to fly in it talk about its power, smooth quiet ride and the ergonomic modern cockpit that reduced pilot workload.”
The 429 has the interior space of a medium-class helicopter and the direct operating costs of a light, which has created demand for all market segments. “We really listened to what the customer wanted in a helicopter and I believe they won’t be disappointed with the 429. Its performance is even better than we had promised,” says Bob Fitzpatrick, the senior vice president of Business Development and Commercial Programs.
Customers and potential customers had opportunities at the Paris Air Show to experience the 429 with demonstration flights throughout the show.
In addition to the 429, the Bell 407 and 412 was on display during the show.
New 412s to the NYPD
In other news from the Paris Air Show, Bell announced the sale of two 412s to the New York City Police Department for use as air sea rescue helicopters. The NYPD is replacing its older fleet with the new 412s. Repeat customers, says Fitzpatrick, “is a great testament to the quality of our products and the high level of customer support we provide our products in the field.”
The NYPD Aviation Unit is slated to receive these new four-axis helicopters with state-of-the-art avionics and mission-specific equipment. Customization will be done by Edwards & Associates, Inc. in Bristol, Tennessee.
First Bell Customer Service Facility in Russia
Bell also announced that it has selected Kazan Aviation Enterprise as its first Customer Service Facility (CSF) provider in Russia. Kazan will offer field maintenance for the Bell 407.
The announcement demonstrates the tremendous increase in the demand for Bell products in the Russian market, says Danny Maldonado, vice president for Customer Support and Bell’s Chief Services Officer. “Establishing a CSF there is another indication of the growth we are experiencing and the importance that we place on the Russian market.”
The Bell CSF network consists of approximately 133 service facilities located in 33 countries. Each CSF has a Bell Helicopter-trained staff, a broad inventory of Bell spare parts and it provides high quality service to Bell customers.
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