Business has been brisk at Heli-Expo for Bell (Booth 3117), which has inked purchase agreements for 11 helicopters in the early part of the show. Five of those will go to Jet Aviation in Australia, three to Swiss companies, two to operators in California, and another to Smarttech in Prague.
Jet Aviation, Bell’s independent representative for Australia and New Zealand, sold five 407GXi helicopters to Nautilus Aviation. The company operates a mixed fleet of Bell 206/L4, 505, 407, and 412EP helicopters. The company also is commissioned to customize the five Nautilus helicopters.
Centaurium Aviation, a Swiss helicopter sales and acquisition company, also expanded its fleet with the purchase of a Bell 429. The company—which became an independent representative for Bell in Switzerland in 2020—supports helicopter pilots, owners, and operators with a wide range of services. In addition, another two Bell 505 purchase agreements were signed by Swiss customers Heli Alpin and Heli Academy.
Meanwhile, San Diego Gas and Electric signed an agreement to buy a Subaru-Bell 412EPX, adding its first Bell aircraft to an existing fleet of helicopters to complete various utility missions.
Ventura County, also in California, signed for a 412EPX for its sheriff’s department, marking the first public safety application for the aircraft in North America. Its new helicopter will be used for law enforcement, search and rescue, emergency medical services, and fire suppression missions.
Smarttech, a provider of solar and wind power stations, signed a purchase agreement for a Bell 407GXi with delivery anticipated in August. The company originally owned a Bell 505 but is upgrading to the 407.