Heli Expo 2006 News

[St. Venant]

For all you UK Ppruners spotted this press release this morning:

UK: Sloane Helicopters sign Eu200M contract for minimum of 44 AgustaWestland helicopters over 4 years

http://www.pprune.org/forums/cid:[email protected], a Finmeccanica company, and Sloane Helicopters Ltd today announced the signing of a new distribution agreement to provide AgustaWestland helicopters to the United Kingdom and Irish civil helicopter market. This agreement will allow Sloane to market and sell the entire AgustaWestland civil market product line.

The distribution agreement spans four years and entails the acquisition of a minimum of 44 helicopters in the four year period. Sloane has already signed a contract to acquire 10 helicopters in 2006. The overall market value of the agreement is approximately 200 million Euro.

This agreement will strengthen AgustaWestland’s share of the UK light-twin VIP/Corporate market, which is already more than 70%, and will allow further expansion in the UK HEMS and police market.
Sloane Helicopters Ltd has been supporting AgustaWestland’s UK sales since 1996. During these ten years Sloane has sold more than 40 AgustaWestland helicopters in the UK and Ireland. Sloane also acts as a Service Centre, Maintenance facility and Type Rating Transition center for AgustaWestland helicopters in the UK. This agreement will strengthen AgustaWestland’s position in the UK civil market.

[Helipolarbear]

Lets see if Sloane's 'care' of the market in 'EIRE' is not just making a fast buck from the 'celtic cubs'......but is serious about providing customer support IN IRELAND.......what a concept for them!!!!!:cool: Who knows they might even actually open an office with a dedicated service to the larger (than UK) Irish market...especially where the R22's, A109's and A139's are concerned. They have some making up to do where sincereness in backup customer care is concernd. At least the 'Used Car Salesman' looks the part!.................:ok:

[St. Venant]

Helipolarbear:

I dont see 'Eire' referred to anywhere in the press release, or am I missing something?

Are the Eurocopter rep in that market place any better or worse??

[hotzenplotz]

Bell Unveils the Bell 417 - the "civil 407 ARH"

DALLAS--Feb. 27, 2006--In a dramatic unveiling at Heli-Expo yesterday, Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT - News) company introduced their new Bell 417. In a ceremony before a large crowd, Bell Helicopter Chief Executive Officer Mike Redenbaugh revealed a mock-up of the new Bell 417 in law enforcement configuration.

"The Bell 417 is our answer to the customers' demand for a powerful single engine, helicopter with unmatched hot and high hover capability," explained Redenbaugh. "We have used the voice of the customer to drive many of the decisions we have made on the Bell 417 from concept definition to development."

The Bell 417 will maintain the legacy and reliability of the 407 and improve on it with even more power, more payload and improved hot and high performance. The Bell 417 will include a modern, Chelton "glass cockpit" and the new Honeywell HTS900 turbine engine delivering more than 970 SHP.

According to Bell Helicopter 417 Executive Director John Ricciardelli, the Bell 417 is right on track to deliver to the customer in 2008.

"We will be flying the Bell 417 prototype in April of this year and hope to complete certification in early 2008," Ricciardelli said.

In addition to incorporating the voice of the customer, the Bell 417 also brought in Bell Helicopter's world-class customer support organization to ensure the design and development concentrated on the long-term life cycle and maintainability of the aircraft.

The Bell 417 is expected to include the following basic aircraft equipment:

* Spacious cabin with club seating for 5 -- Cockpit can accommodate 95th percentile male wearing helmets with NVG equipment stowed

* Improved "bubble cockpit" provides greater head room -- Integrated Chelton avionics package -- Dual VHF-COM, GPS/WAAS, AD/AHRS, transponder, and S audio panel

* New FADEC system equipped with dual electronic control units (ECU) offering dual channel safety and reliability

[Bravo73]

Further to hotzenplotz's post:

http://www.skycontrol.net/UserFiles/Image/Helicopters_img/200602/200602bell_417.jpg


PS Read somewhere else that the 417 is going to be Bell's answer to the AS350B3.

[Bravo73]

I dont see 'Eire' referred to anywhere in the press release, or am I missing something?

Er, how about in the first line of your press release...? :hmm:

to provide AgustaWestland helicopters to the United Kingdom and Irish civil helicopter market:suspect:

[Brilliant Stuff]

Finally a picture of the beastie any more?