Scramble Magazine – April 2018

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Scramble 467

HAI Heli-Expo 2018

This Sikorsky S-70A Firehawk is owned by City of Los Angeles. N15LA is used by the LA County fire department. It is one of three in the current

fleet with a fourth S-70 recently ordered. (Las Vegas (NV), 23 February 2018, Baron von Speed)

Chris Ufkes

The annual HAI Heli-Expo took place at Las Vegas (NV) from

27 February 2018 till 1 March 2018.

Babcock signed a five-year frame agreement for a fleet of

H160s used for EMS and other critical services missions.

Babcock was named by Airbus Helicopters as the global

launch customer for the H160. An unnamed major U.S. busi-

ness entity is the first customer for the H160 in North America

with four vip helicopters on order. Boston MedFlight has

ordered three new Airbus H145 helicopters as part of a plan

to upgrade its fleet. Boston MedFlight is a nonprofit organi-

zation that provides critical care air medical transport for

Boston-area and other Eastern Massachusetts hospitals. The

new aircraft will replace Boston MedFlights H145 predeces-

sors, two EC145s and a BK117, with the first two expected this

spring and the third due this fall. Mexican Oil & Gas operator

Transportes Aéreos Pegaso has signed for a third H175 for

delivery in 2019. Metro Aviation displayed Seminole County

Sheriff Office’s H125. This H125 is Metro’s first completion

using ceramic paint on an aircraft. The company has also

ordered 25 EC145e-lite helicopters. Airbus Helicopters and

Helicopter Travel Munich, Germany have signed an agree-

ment for the purchase of four H125s. Era will take delivery of

two AW609s in 2020. This agreement will launch the AW609

into service in the US commercial market.

Just a few days after revealing its rebrand to ‘just’ Bell, Bell

Helicopter attended the Heli-Expo. The company introduced

the new Bell 407GXi at the event with the first delivery

scheduled this spring. Helisul Táxi Aéreo and Bell signed a

purchase agreement of the first of four Bell 505 Jet Ranger X

aircraft. All four Bell 505 aircraft will be delivered to Helisul

Táxi Aéreo this year. The first law enforcement configured

Bell 505 Jet Ranger X has been sold to the Sacramento Police

Department. Scheduled for delivery this Spring the Bell 505

will be outfitted with several law enforcement provisions

including high skid gear. Helite Aviation based at Montreal

has ordered the first Bell 505 MAGnificent to be operated as a

commercial, for hire aircraft. The helicopter will be custom-

ized by Mecaer at Bell Helicopter’s Mirabel facility. Helicop-

ters Incorporated signed to buy the first two 505s to perform

electronic newsgathering (ENG) missions with the first

Bell 505 Jet Ranger X N505CQ is a very recent addition to the FAA registry. Since January 2018 this helicopter is registered to Bell Helicopters

Textron. (Las Vegas (NV), 26 February 2018, Lukas Kinneswenger)