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The Bell 412 series is a formidable and venerable helicopter, but new-technology machines are challenging its very existence. How do you think Bell will respond to these challenges with their 412? And will EPX be a real successor of the 412 EPs and EPIs?
Aviation Week London Bureau Chief Tony Osborne responds:
The Bell 412EPX is little more than an incremental upgrade of the Bell 412 family, a commercial spin-off of the UH-X platform that was selected by the Japan Self-Defense Forces as a replacement for the UH-1H and codeveloped with Fuji (now Subaru). The EPX is a successor to the EP and EPI models, but it will not change Bell’s position in the medium helicopter marketplace—it gave up that leadership spot in 2005 when it withdrew from a partnership with Italy’s Agusta on the AB139, now the AW139.
The AW139 is arguably the best selling medium commercial helicopter of the last 10-15 years, exceeding its 1,000th delivery last year. It has changed the medium helicopter market entirely. Arguably, Bell needs to make either a significant investment in the Model 412 or come up with a new medium design to take on the AW139, but it is difficult to see either making any serious dent in the AW139’s market lead.
I suspect Bell will not develop the Model 412 anymore, and probably leave it to Subaru to build and complete the UH-X program, giving the company more breathing room to work on its light helicopters, niche technology programs and pursue its military interests such as the U.S. Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft and Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft.
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