Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, announced on Feb. 6 the delivery of two Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopters to SECO International of Japan. These are the first Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopters delivered to a Japanese customer and will be used for passenger transport, sightseeing, aerial photography and television broadcasting.
“The delivery of the first two Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopters to SECO International marks another key milestone for Bell Helicopter and the 505 in Japan,” said Michael Reagan, Bell Helicopter’s managing director for Japan. “We look forward to deepening our successful relationship with SECO International as we work together to put these two 505s into service and the smooth delivery of the remaining 505s on order.”
SECO International signed a letter of intent in March 2015 for 10 Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopters. Founded in 1983, SECO International of Nagoya operates a fleet of light helicopters and manages private owners’ aircraft with full operational support at its Nagoya Airport facility.
“At SECO International, we have been looking forward to operating the Bell 505 and are delighted to be the first Japanese company to take delivery of the aircraft,” said Masahiro Minagawa, president of SECO International. “We remain confident that the Bell 505 — with its best-in-class performance, safety and design — will help us enhance our service offerings and bring unmatched value to our customers.”
Bell has also signed a purchase agreement with both Vietnam Helicopter Corporation and its subsidiary, Northern Vietnam Helicopter Company (VNH North), for two Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopters.
“As the first Bell commercial helicopter sale in Vietnam, we are pleased that Vietnam Helicopter Corporation and VNH North have chosen the Bell 505 for their operations in Vietnam and beyond,” said Sameer A. Rehman, managing director of Bell Helicopter Asia Pacific. “The Bell 505 incorporates the latest advancements in safety and aviation technology while providing best-in-class value. We look forward to working closely [with] and supporting both Vietnam Helicopter Corporation and VNH North as they expand their business to new territories and customers.”
Vietnam Helicopter Corporation, a state-owned helicopter operator and its subsidiary VNH North operate a fleet of modern helicopters providing utility and transport services across a number of industries such as oil-and-gas, tourism, air ambulance, search-and-rescue and VIP transportation. Vietnam Helicopter Corporation and its subsidiaries also provide pilot training and maintenance, repair and overhaul services.
“We are confident that the versatility and state-of-the-art technology in the new Bell 505 will enable us to continue to serve our customers across many industries in a safe, reliable and efficient manner and support the expansion [of] our business globally,” said Capt. Do Xuan Hoa, director of VNH North.
The reliability, speed, performance, and maneuverability of the Bell 505 is integrated with a flat floor, open cabin that is configurable for a wide variety of missions and payloads. The spacious cabin can be configured to carry up to four passengers or configured for internal cargo missions by removing quick disconnect rear cabin seats and/or copilot seat.
The Bell 505’s flat floor cabin design and large rectangular baggage compartment lets the aircraft adapt to your changing mission needs. These features combined with a proven and reliable drivetrain and rotor system make the Bell 505 a true multi-mission aircraft in the short, light, single-engine market.
