Bell is hopeful that its 505 light single-engined helicopter can capture more of the Asia-Pacific's training needs.
India’s growing need for improved connectivity and its expected demand for emergency medical helicopter services could be Bell’s “greatest opportunity” in the Asia-Pacific region, the company’s regional managing director Sameer Rehman says.
The country’s rapid growth, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s favorable approach to the private sector and a regulatory effort to enable wider air connectivity are all set to drive increased demand for helicopters, Rehman says.
“With urbanization and more people moving from smaller communities, EMS [emergency medical services] is a foregone conclusion of the future—we expect EMS to be taken on in a big way in India,” Rehman tells Aviation Week ahead of the Singapore Airshow.
“The challenges will be around regulation, infrastructure and funding, and all of that will have to come hand in hand as these services develop, so there is work to be done,” he adds.
Rehman says Bell already has a significant presence in India through its parent Textron and in terms of an installed base. Indian oil and gas operators are flying the Bell 412 while the Bell 429 light-twin is popular with private operators and VIP owners.
“Our greatest market share and customer orientation growth [in India] lies in the public safety fields,” Rehman says, noting that even the use of law enforcement helicopters has not yet “realized its potential.”
“Both [EMS and law enforcement] will come to bear I think in the future given now it's the most populated country in the world… and climbing.”
Other opportunities for sales come from island nations such as Indonesia and the Philippines that are looking to improve connectivity. China is another market waiting to happen but for now remains limited as the military has been slow to open low-altitude skies up to private helicopter operations.
“China’s skies are yet to unfold and realize their full potential,” Rehman says, "but I have no doubt that in the coming years and that with collaboration with governments in the region, China's regulation will shift toward being more friendly in terms of Open Sky policies.”
During the Singapore Airshow, Bell will announce a series of regional sales agreements for its smaller helicopters including the Bell 429 and the single-engine 505.
The latter has found a niche market for rotary-wing flying training, particularly among regional militaries. Several 505s have already been delivered to the South Korean Navy and more are set join the country’s other armed services.
Seoul selected the type in May 2022 as part of the recapitalization of its training helicopter needs. Bell’s South Korean contract calls for the building and delivery of up to 40 Bell 505 helicopters by 2025.
“Bell 505 flight training is a huge part of why we exist today in this region,” Rehman says.
“We want to revolutionize the training in the environments and the countries in which we do business here because there is no greater way to enhance safety and operate more complex aircraft than by starting with the safest aircraft possible,” he adds.
Rehman says there are several countries in the region whose training helicopter fleets are beginning to “peak” in terms of age. Bell is now in discussions with those governments on “fleet replacement, fleet enhancement strategies with the 505.”
Bell is also hoping that its yet-to-be certified fly-by-wire 525 will also grab some market share in the region. While the offshore energy market is an obvious focus, there may also be opportunities in the governmental VIP market as a possible head of state transport.
“I expect the 525 will emerge into a market that will accept it for its technology for its innovation for safety,” Rehman says, adding, “The 525’s appeal will be very large in this part of the world.”
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