Bell Helicopter sold at least six helicopters yesterday within hours of NBAA opening. Last year the company shifted 10 aircraft over the entire show. One customer, St. Louis, Missouri-based Helicopters Inc bought two Bell 407s. Mike Redenbaugh, Bell chief executive, says: “The demand for vertical lift among corporate customers is getting stronger. Many companies here have distribution needs that are spread over a 200-300 mile [320-480km] radius in remote locations without a runway.”
Bell attributes the rise in sales to its customer service. Redenbaugh says: “We use all our shows to stay closely connected to our customers. These events give us a chance to talk with customers, listen to them and adopt and modify our products and services to meet their needs.”
Many companies are attracted by the convenience of using a helicopter and Bell will help source helipads if necessary. Redenbaugh says: “A helicopter in the 4,000-10,000lb [1,800-4,550km] range can land on any paved surface in addition to grass fields.”
However, one area of increasing concern is the lack of heliports in major cities across Europe and the USA. Redenbaugh says: “There are only a handful of helipads in New York City, compared with Brazil, for example, which has several hundred sites and 500 flights per day. In South Africa helicopters are widely used by commuters to avoid traffic.” He stresses that helicopters are useful not only for business applications, but also in situations such as medical emergencies, police back-up and road traffic awareness. “Mankind can benefit from vertical lift operating platforms. There is a strong need for additional capability,” says Redenbaugh.
Bell says the lack of helipads means users are unable to take full advantage of the product security and commercial benefits that helicopters provide. The company is working with other industry players to bring attention to the shortage to government and industry leaders.
Source: Flight Daily News
