On March 7th in Atlanta, Bell Textron Inc., a
subsidiary of Textron Inc., announced a signed purchase agreement for a Bell
429 helicopter that will be delivered to a private owner and operated by World
Aviation, Independent Representative (IR) for Bell in Spain, for charter and
VIP corporate transportation in the Costa del Sol and other regions of the
country.
World Aviation was appointed as Bell's Independent
Representative in 2020. This company, with base in Madrid and Malaga, focuses on
passengers and cargo transportation, aerial work, and VIP transfers as well as pilot
training, maintenance, engineering, and other operational services.
The Bell 429 is a very popular helicopter for VIP
flights throughout most prestigious locations in Europe. It is operated in the
French Riviera and the French Alps by Helisecurite; Wucher Helicopter in
Austria; Starspeed in London, Greece, and Cyprus. It is particularly popular in
Switzerland, where it is operated by HeliAlps, Airport Helicopter, Air Zermatt,
and Centaurium Aviation.
"Those looking for an aircraft that offers
transportation, speed, smoothness, and a superior experience for passengers, have
to look for the Bell 429," said Alberto Delgado, CEO of World Aviation.
"We are very pleased to facilitate the purchase of the first Bell 429 in
Spain, and we are confident that both passengers and pilots will be delighted
with the premium experience this aircraft provides."
Patrick Moulay, Senior Vice President of Bell International
Sales, pointed out: "The Bell 429 continues to show its breadth of
capabilities for our European customers - from mountain rescue in the Swiss
Alps to police forces in Sweden and now passenger transport in Costa del Sol.
The combination of twin engines, IFR capability, and Bell's integrated
BasiX-Pro avionics means the 429 is capable of flying in more locations and under
any weather conditions, making it an extremely versatile machine for the VIP
corporate mission in Europe."
The Bell 429 is a high-capacity, twin-engine multi-mission
platform used worldwide for search and rescue, police operations, HEMS, and
corporate transport. Its dual Pratt & Whitney engines provide a maximum of
635 continuous shp, with a maximum cruise speed of 278 km/hr, while its
four-blade rotor system provides exceptional levels of smoothness and
refinement in flight.
For customers looking for an additional level of
luxury, the Bell 429 can be certified with a wide range of interior designs, raising
the cabin experience by offering a selection of superior leather options,
upgraded flooring and metallic finishes, as well as custom consoles, access
door panels, and ceiling lining, among other details to choose.
Currently, there are 430 Bell 429 helicopters
operating worldwide, 90 of them in Europe. This will be the first one in Spain.
Bell
was present at HAI Heli-Expo 2023 from March 6th to 9th in Atlanta, where a
Bell 429, among other models, could be seen.