Bell Helicopter has handed over two 407GXs (shown here) and a 429 to operators in Russia. Mike Reyno Photo
The Aviation Register of Russia’s Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) has granted approval for the Bell 429 wheeled landing gear (WLG) version for operations that involve ground taxiing.
Patrick Moulay, Bell’s managing director for Europe, noted that the manufacturer has experienced “strong interest” from operators in Russia for the 429 WLG, which was unveiled in October 2013 during last year’s National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention in Las Vegas.
The IAC approval comes on the heels of a trio of Bell deliveries to Russia leading up to JetExpo, which runs from September 4 to 6 in Moscow. Bell has handed over a corporate 407GX and a 429 to private operators, as well as a medically configured 407GX to Helidrive.
Helidrive, an Independent Representative (IR) offering helicopter sales, maintenance, charter and other services, will use the 407GX to support emergency medical services (EMS) missions in the Saint Petersburg and Leningrad region. Bell has also sold two 407GXs to undisclosed private operators in the region.
