One Bell Kenya Facility Serves Three East Africa Fleets

Bell’s authorized service center in Kenya, Africair Helicopter Support, can service helicopters registered not only in Kenya, but also in Ethiopia and Tanzania, under separate civil aviation authority approvals. This gives East African operators a single facility for maintenance, avionics, and component work across fleets in three countries. Africair Helicopter Support is based in Ruiru Town, Kenya, and was set up to serve the region’s growing rotorcraft sector.

“Africair plays a vital role in ensuring Bell operators across East Africa have the immediate, high-quality support they need to stay mission focused,” Tim Evans, Bell managing director for the Middle East and Africa, said. “Their capabilities allow us to bring Bell’s global standards closer to our customers and further extend our ability to serve the diverse and demanding missions across the region.” The facility’s capabilities cover routine maintenance, avionics upgrades, parts sourcing, component overhaul, structural repair, non-destructive testing, and aircraft shipping.

Chris Schaefer, Bell v-p of global customer solutions, said the facility’s work spans a range of aftermarket needs. “From avionics upgrades to component overhaul, their work ensures customers across East Africa can operate with confidence and continue delivering vital services to their communities.”

Bell described East Africa as one of aviation’s more demanding operating environments, citing missions such as anti-poaching patrol work, wildlife conservation flights, medevac transport, tourism, and infrastructure support as typical of the region. Separately, the company said its African base now has more than 850 aircraft, some dating back to 1965, flying missions ranging from public safety and utility work to tourism and corporate transport.