Dubai 2015: Bell Helicopter and Strong Aviation sign LOI for Bell 525

Above: (left to right) David Sale, Regional Sales Manager, Bell Helicopter, Captain Salem Safar, Aviation Manager, Strong Aviation and Patrick Moulay, VP Global Commercial Sales, Bell Helicopter.

Established in 1995, Strong Aviation is a private operator headquartered in Kuwait City. The aircraft will be used for corporate transport missions in the area.

“We are excited to be the first Bell 525 clients in Kuwait,” said Capt. Salem Safar, Aviation Manager, Strong Aviation. “The anticipated performance of the aircraft is a key decision point for us. We are eager to add the advanced Bell 525 to our fleet, and are confident it will provide unparalleled value and performance for our clients.”

“The Bell 525 is an outstanding aircraft,” said Steve Suttles, Bell Helicopter, Vice President Middle East and Africa. “Sales are ramping up in the Middle East since the successful first flight. The market is responding well to the game changing capabilities of the aircraft. It is designed to perform a diverse mission set more cost effectively than any aircraft available on the market today, and this is a key selling point for our customers.”

The Bell 525 is the world’s first fly-by-wire commercial helicopter, designed to operate safely and reliably in austere environments and with decreased pilot workload. The aircraft integrates critical systems data to be easily accessible at a glance with the Garmin G5000H suite, the first fully-integrated touch screen flight deck designed for helicopters. Best-in-class payload, cabin, cargo volumes, comfort and egress complement the technological advancements on the aircraft. The first flight of the Bell 525 was achieved on 1 July 2015 and certification of the aircraft is anticipated in 2017.