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Scramble 467
expected to be delivered in May 2018. At Heli-Expo 2018 Bell
Helicopter announced the introduction of the Bell 407GXi.
The Bell 407GXi incorporates new avionics, an upgraded
engine, and new executive interior design options.
South African service provider Safomar Aviation signed an
order for two of its SH09 helicopters with Kopter Group.
During Heli-Expo in Las Vegas it was announced that Kopter
Group signed a memorandum of agreement with Rainier
International for the purchase of five SH09 helicopters with
options for as many as five additional aircraft for delivery
within the next three years. Kopter also announced the sig-
nature of a firm contract for twelve SH09 plus six options
with Helitrans, Norway. Kopter Group signed a Memorandum
of Agreement with Paradise Helicopters for the purchase of
four SH09 helicopters to be delivered after the helicopter is
awarded FAA certification expected by the end of 2019.
Lease Corporation International announced that it is expand-
ing its partnership with CHC through the placement of a
second Airbus Helicopters H175 aircraft with the operator.
H175 is due to enter service in December 2018 and will be sup-
porting CHC’s operations in the UK. An agreement between
Leonardo and Era Group was announced to launch the
AW609 into service in the US commercial market. Contracts
were signed with Sino-US, the distributor of Leonardo in the
Chinese civil and commercial helicopter market, for 26 heli-
copters (7 AW119Kx, 15 AW109s Trekker and 4 AW139s) and
with Sloane Helicopters for two helicopters. Leonardo signed
various agreements and contracts on day two with HeliS-
ervice for an AW169 to perform missions in the North Sea
and Flight Express for one AW119Kx and one AW169 in VIP/
Corporate configuration. Mitsui Bussan Aerospace signed an
order for one AW189. Leonardo also announced the delivery
of two AW119Kx single engine helicopters to Akagera Avia-
tion of Rwanda.
The Virginia Beach Police Departments MD530F on display is
scheduled for delivery in June 2018. The Malaysian Ministry
of Defence ordered six MD530Gwith the first delivery sched-
uled in June of this year and the last four in August of this
year. Robinson Helicopter took the R66 cargo hook installa-
tion to the Expo for the first time.
Sikorsky signed to deliver one S-70i Firehawk helicopter
in a baseline configuration to the city of San Diego first
announced last December. Production number 300 S-92 will
enter service with Era Helicopters in the Gulf of Mexico in
March configured for offshore oil worker transportation in
the Gulf of Mexico.Waypoint Leasing announced that it has completed a pur-
chase and lease-back for one AW139 helicopter to Heliconia
Group in Morocco.
Airbus Helicopters wrapped up Heli Expo 2018 with orders
for over 50 helicopters. Leonardo announced further com-
bined orders for helicopters in Las Vegas for a total of 17 air-
craft valued at almost 140 million euro. The total of orders for
the SH09 have been brought to 34 firm orders and options, 29
pre-contracts (MoA) that will transform into contracts when
certification is reached and over 100 Letters of Intent.
A total of 39 helicopter flew into the expo. The exact departure
dates are not known but nine departed on 1 March and the
rest departed on 2 March 2018. Some helicopters have been
logged while operating demo fights from the parking area.
In 2019 HAI’s Heli-Expo will take place at the Georgia World
Congress Center in Altanta, Georgia from 4 till 7 March.
Credits: Lukas Kinneswenger, Joshua Ruppert (Flickr), Greg
Akers (Flickr), Helis.com Airbus helicopters, Bell, Leonardo,
Kopter Group, Jan Makkus, John Maloney / Copters list.C-FIWN is registered to Bell Helicopters Textron Canada since January 2015. It was seen at the event with Bell 407 GXi marking and the new Bell
logo but it is not known if this 2015 frame actually was converted to Bel 407GXi. The GXi is the successor to the GXP. It incorporates new avionics,
an upgraded engine, and new executive interior design options. (Las Vegas (NV), 26 February 2018, Lukas Kinneswenger)