A Bell 429 operated by Helidosa takes in the spectacular coastline of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. In the June/July issue of Vertical Magazine, Bell Helicopter was revealed as the winner of the first-ever Vertical Helicopter Manufacturers Survey. Sheldon Cohen Photo
The results are in, and Bell Helicopter has earned top honors in Vertical Magazine’s first-ever Helicopter Manufacturers Survey.
Conducted in April 2015 in partnership with the independent research firm PMG Intelligence, the Vertical Helicopter Manufacturers Survey asked current members of the helicopter industry to rate their satisfaction with helicopter manufacturers’ products and services. A total of 986 respondents participated in the survey, providing feedback on a wide range of questions related to customer support and aircraft performance.
Those evaluations were used to rank six major helicopter manufacturers on their performance. Among them, Bell Helicopter was the clear winner, receiving top marks overall and across most of the dimensions measured by the survey. Coming in second was Robinson Helicopter, followed by Airbus Helicopters, Sikorsky Aircraft, AgustaWestland, and MD Helicopters Inc.
Complete results can be found in the June-July 2015 issue of Vertical, which breaks down the results by market sector and geographical region. The survey report also includes an overview of respondents’ comments, with responses by the manufacturers.
“When we created the survey, we wanted to give all of our readers — from the largest operators to the smallest — the chance to provide meaningful feedback to the companies that design and build their aircraft,” stated Vertical publisher Mike Reyno. “Although we expected a strong response, we were blown away by the number of people who took part in it.”
Reyno noted that fully 40 percent of respondents indicated that they have been employed in the helicopter industry for 20 or more years, suggesting the depth of experience and insight behind their responses.
“We believe our survey results will provide helicopter manufacturers with powerful information on how to improve their products and services,” Reyno continued. “This is a truly representative survey by the helicopter industry, for the helicopter industry, and we’re looking forward to repeating it next year.”
About MHM Publishing
MHM Publishing is a family-run publishing firm founded in 2002 by husband and wife duo Mike and Linda Reyno. The company employs a core 16-person staff, as well as nearly three dozen regular contributors. With a focus on aviation magazine titles, MHM publishes Vertical magazine for the North American civil helicopter market, Vertical 911 for the parapublic helicopter industry, and Skies for the North American aviation market.
The MHM family of aviation magazines, along with the as-it-happens exclusive online coverage provided on the Vertical and Skies websites, remains committed to delivering current and relevant stories from the front lines of the aviation industry. From timely news and key insights, to stunning photography and unique stories, MHM’s team of contributing editors travel the world to bring readers the stories that affect their operations.
