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A Bell 505 in EnB Air colors.
SINGAPORE—South Korean helicopter operator EnB Air has signed a purchase agreement to acquire one Bell 505, configured for initial-attack aerial firefighting missions.
Initial-attack firefighting enables aerial assets to be rapidly deployed to contain a fire in its early stages, ahead of the arrival of ground-based responders, which aims to reduce the risk of escalation.
Bell tells Aviation Week the helicopter is equipped with a cargo hook, external mirrors, a cargo weighing system, a loudhailer and a Bambi Bucket system. The Bell 505 is certified for a maximum external load of 907 kg (2,000 lb).
EnB Air became Bell's first commercial customer in South Korea for the 505 in 2024.
The role of aerial firefighting assets came into sharp focus during South Korea’s 2025 wildfires, when hundreds of military and para-public helicopters were mobilized for sustained water-bombing operations over nearly two months. The country also recognized the requirement for smaller tactical helicopters to tackle smaller blazes.
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