Page 32 - AAA SEPTEMBER - OCOTBER 2017 Online Magazine

FEATURE ROTARY WING

with its AW139 Fleet earlier this year. The emerging markets in the region. Bell see a lot of new aircraft orders,” company
company started operating the AW139 in Helicopter announced several partnerships officials said in a recent investor conference
2011. Westar is the largest South East Asian and deliveries across key markets such as call. While there remains a lot of interest
offshore helicopter services provider and Indonesia, India and Vietnam during the around the 525 from the oil and gas market,
largest AW139 operator in Asia. 100,000 inaugural edition of Rotorcraft Asia, which significant orders are still some time away. In
hours on the company’s AW139s was achieved was held earlier this year. While India’s Tata the meantime, Bell has said that it is looking
within just 72 months of operations. Weststar Steel Group purchased a second Bell 429 at other markets such as VVIP transport,
Aviation Services presently operates a total at the show, Bell also bagged orders from government troop transport and other utility
of 26 AW139 helicopters, in addition to a Philippines based operator Terra Barbaza applications for the 525, which possesses an
single AW189 super medium helicopter. The Aviation and Bangladesh based Meghna unmatched flight envelope as a result of its
AW139 has proved to be very successful in Aviation for Bell 429s. Vietnam Helicopter fly-by-wire controls.
its category and over 950 helicopters have also signed up for two Bell 505 Jet Ranger
been ordered around the world. It offers a X light helicopters. Air Pacific Utama (PT New Rotorcraft Forum
high cruise speed (165 knots / 306 kph), long APU) which ordered a new Bell 407GXP at In terms of show promoting rotorcraft in the
range of (up to 675 nm / 1250 km) and an Rotorcraft Asia, also became the first Asian region, the inaugural edition of Rotorcraft Asia
endurance of up to 6 hours. Other important cusromer to sign-up for Bell’s new service which was held in Singapore, this year, was an
products for Leonardo in the region are the solution called Customer Advantage Plan important event for the rotorcraft community.
new AW109 Trekker, AW189, AW169 and (CAP). The new 407GXP, which was launched Approximately 3,000 trade attendees from
the revolutionary AW609 tiltrotor, which is in 2015 has proved popular in the region and 52 countries visited the show, which was held
slated for certification in 2018. China’s Shaanxi Helicopter Co. placed orders at the Changi Exhibition Centre. “Home to
for 100 of the type in June. Deliveries of the Singapore Airshow, Asia’s largest aerospace
Bell Helicopter helicopters are to start before the end of the and defence event, and now to Rotorcraft Asia
It is estimated that there close to 1,300 Bell year. An uptick in the oil and gas market would and Unmanned Systems Asia, Singapore has
Helicopter rotorcraft operating in the Asia- benefit the in-development Bell 525, which established its leading position in providing
Pacific region. Bell Helicopter reported 2016 was designed as a helicopter that would be key strategic platforms for the global fixed
revenues of US$1.1 billion for its commercial ideally suited to the oil and gas market. “We wing, rotary wing and unmanned systems
rotorcraft business which comprises of still think it’s a great oil and gas machine, industry participants to converge, forge
the Bell 412, Huey II 429, 407, 206L4 and obviously that market is in a very difficult partnerships and tap into the region’s growth
505 models. While obviously focused spot right now. As oil prices have come a little potential,” said Leck Chet Lam, Managing
on China, the Textron owned company has bit, it’s probably starting to get a little better. Director, Experia Events. According to the
been successful in winning major orders We have seen some activity in the later end organisers, the response for the first edition
in Australia, Thailand, Philippines, India into that segment, but still very, very weak. of the show was positive and future editions
and Indonesia. In addition to its existing It is going to take some time from sort of of the show will be expanded to bring in more
markets, the company’s product portfolio the line between oil and gas recovering and exciting dimensions. Commenting on the new
is also attracting strong interest from absorption what’s out there before you will trade show, Thierry Tea, CEO, PhilJets Group

The Bell 407GXP, which was
launched in 2015 has proved
popular in the region. China’s
Shaanxi Helicopter ordered 100 of
the type in June
32 ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2017 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/AAA