Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

Contributor

Mark Huber

&nbsp;

 


Chinese crop-spraying contractor Qiqhar Kun Feng General Aviation ordered a pair of Bell 407GX helicopters and signed a letter of intent for five of the manufacturer’s new 505 model. The deal, announced on March 2, represents the second order Bell Helicopter has received from a major Chinese agricultural group.

 


“For many years Qiqihar Kun Feng has utilized leased helicopters in their operations,” said Chris Jaran, vice president of Bell Helicopter in China. “We are proud they have chosen Bell helicopters as they build a reliable fleet of self-owned aircraft.”

 


Demand for new <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2014-04-16/chinese-hai-could-be-formed-zhuhai-show">civil helicopters in China</a> has been boosted by the government’s long-awaited relaxation of flight operations rules in airspace below 1,000 meters (3,281 feet). By the end of 2015, there will be only a few restricted military zones in the country’s lower airspace, excusing operators from the need to file flight plans that are difficult to get approved.

 


Despite declining U.S. Defense Department spending and a worldwide contraction in new civil helicopter sales in 2014, Bell Helicopter CEO John Garrison said that the company is “bullish” for a “return to growth this year.”

 


Over the last 30 months Bell has laid off more than 3,000 workers as deliveries of the military Bell/Boeing V-22 tiltrotor have been reduced from 41 in 2013 to an estimated 21 this year. Production of that aircraft is scheduled to end altogether in 2019 unless Bell receives further orders.

 


Bell posted revenue of $4.2 billion in 2014 and currently derives 62 percent of its total revenues from U.S. government programs. Although the V-22 program is winding down, Garrison said he is optimistic about the third-generation <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2015-02-27/sports-car-performance-promised-bell-v-280">V-280 tiltrotor</a> Bell is developing for the Pentagon's Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) competition. That aircraft is scheduled to make first flight in 2017 and Garrison said that continuing global instability, and the need to transport troops quickly over increasingly longer distances, will make it an important military tool moving forward.

 


525 Engines and Tailboom Fitted

 


While Bell has made significant head-count reductions, Garrison noted that the company tripled its global sales and marketing force over the same period, updated legacy civil platforms and is making good progress on the new 505 and 525 programs. On the latter, Garrison revealed that the engines and tailboom were installed last week as Bell continues to aim for first flight in the second quarter of this year. Bell delivered 178 civil helicopters in 2014, down from 213 in 2013.

 


Garrison said that Bell is committed to maintaining its manufacturing, engineering and test facility for civil helicopters in Mirabel, Canada. He said the 525 is being produced in Amarillo, Texas to take advantage of excess plant capacity there caused by slowing V-22 production. The economics of the 505, expected to be priced near $1 million, dictated that it be assembled at a green-field facility. Bell is building that helicopter in Lafayette, La. at a plant that should open later this year.

 


Finally, Garrison said that he is confident that Bell had solved customer service problems that lingered into last year as a result of implementing new enterprise software. “Our AOG turnaround time is into the high nineties [percentage] in less than 24 hours in terms of parts shipment. It was painful for a period of time, but now we are through that.”

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

China Order Boosts Bell’s Expectations of 2015 Growth

Bell Helicopter CEO John Garrison is bullish as new 525 prepares to fly, despite declining military spending.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

The upgrade makes the helicopter much simpler to fly

ACE Aero Modding Black Hawks with Skyryse Controls

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Move will help increase availability and lower direct operating costs

Sikorsky Lengthens S-92 Inspection Intervals

Shipment to New Zealand will take place next year after paint and upgrades

Northern Rescue Growing Fleet to Five AW169 Helicopters

Plans call for growing the department's public safety presence

Fort Worth Police Buy Second Bell 505

AmyWilder

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

Key innovations and safety updates event highlights

European Rotors 2024 Focuses on Vertical Flight Future

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

HAI Heli-Expo 2015

More In Rotorcraft

ACE Aero Modding Black Hawks with Skyryse Controls

The upgrade makes the helicopter much simpler to fly

Sikorsky Lengthens S-92 Inspection Intervals

Move will help increase availability and lower direct operating costs

Northern Rescue Growing Fleet to Five AW169 Helicopters

Shipment to New Zealand will take place next year after paint and upgrades

Fort Worth Police Buy Second Bell 505

Plans call for growing the department's public safety presence

European Rotors 2024 Focuses on Vertical Flight Future

Key innovations and safety updates event highlights

Rotortrade Partners with Safran, Joins Mentor Program

Preowned helicopter specialist is expanding its capabilities

Bell Logs Sales for 505 and 407GXi Helicopters

Includes the sale of the 100th Bell 505 in Europe

FAA Releases 2023 Helo Air Ambulance Ops Data Summary

Six accidents, two with fatalities, took place during calendar year 2023

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN