Two Bell 505 Jet Ranger X signings this week at FIDAE 2016 in Santiago have boosted the order backlog for the in-development light single helicopter beyond 360 units, Bell Helicopter announced today. Eagle Copters, which has a base in Colina, Chile, and an undisclosed private Chilean operator each signed for a single corporate/VIP-outfitted Bell 505 at the show.
“The Bell 505 is suited to fit the needs of the Latin American market, and we are pleased to see the growing numbers of customers signing for the aircraft,” said Bell vice president of global sales and marketing Patrick Moulay. In fact, Latin American customers account for nearly a quarter of the backlog for the five-seat helicopter.
Meanwhile, three flight-test Bell 505s have logged more than 575 flight hours and work has begun to prepare for initial production at the company’s assembly center in Lafayette, La. The company is aiming to have the light single FAA certified in the first half of this year and plans a fast production ramp-up that could increase to 200 helicopters per year by 2018.