Bell Signs First Bell 525 Purchase Agreement with Equinor for 10 Aircraft
Anaheim, CA (March 1, 2024) Bell, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced a signed purchase agreement with Equinor for the sale of 10 Bell 525 aircraft for North Sea offshore operations with deliveries expected to begin in 2026.
The 525 offers Equinor superior technological innovation in terms of helicopter safety, reduced CO2 emissions, pilot support systems, passenger comfort and internal and external noise reduction.
“Our relationship with Equinor will enhance the standard of innovation for oil and gas missions and North Sea operations,” said Danny Maldonado, Chief Commercial Officer, Bell. “The Bell 525 technology provides a generational leap forward and will revolutionize offshore oil and gas operations by providing enhanced safety capabilities, reliability and optimized operations.”
Norwegian Aviation and Defense Group representing Bell in Norway are proud to have supported this breakthrough for Bell 525 to be chosen as the new platform for transport of personnel for the energy sector and Equinor.
“Bell has delivered aircraft and reliable services for more than 30 years to Norwegian operators, both in the government and commercial spheres, and will continue to do the same to the Norwegian Continental Shelf and the Energy sector. We are looking forward to developing this further with Equinor,” says Norwegian Aviation and Defense Group Chief Executive Mr Ole Petter Bakken.
The Bell 525 incorporates fly-by-wire flight controls, industry leading drive system performance and fully integrated vehicle health monitoring. The 525-drive system architecture is also precedent setting; with all high-speed drives removed from the main rotor gearbox to incorporate independent and redundant reduction and accessory drive gearboxes. Bell 525 production is ongoing at Bell’s Amarillo Assembly Center, with offshore-configured aircraft coming off the line in 2024.
Contact:
Alexis Baird
Innovation and Commercial Business for Europe, Middle East and Africa
About Bell
Visant toujours plus haut et toujours plus loin, depuis plus de 85 ans, nous réinventons l’expérience du vol en imaginant jusqu’où il pourrait nous mener.
Nous sommes des pionniers. Nous avons été les premiers à franchir le mur du son et à faire certifier un hélicoptère commercial. Nous avons pris part à la première mission de la NASA sur la Lune et nous avons mis en marché des systèmes de rotors basculants évolués. Aujourd’hui, nous façonnons l’avenir de la mobilité sur demande.
Nous sommes une société à part entière de Textron Inc. Notre siège social est situé à Fort Worth, au Texas, et nos établissements sont répartis stratégiquement partout dans le monde. Près d’un quart de nos effectifs ont servi dans les forces armées; il n’est donc pas étonnant que l’une de nos passions consiste à aider les militaires à accomplir leurs missions.
Nos innovations révolutionnaires permettent à nos clients de vivre des expériences incomparables marquées par l’efficacité, la fiabilité et par-dessus tout, la sécurité.
About Textron
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, and Textron Systems. For more information, visit: www.textron.com.
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, changes in aircraft delivery schedules or cancellations or deferrals of orders; our ability to keep pace with our competitors in the introduction of new products and upgrades with features and technologies desired by our customers; changes in government regulations or policies on the export and import of our products; volatility in the global economy or changes in worldwide political conditions that adversely impact demand for our products; volatility in interest rates or foreign exchange rates; and risks related to our international business, including establishing and maintaining facilities in locations around the world and relying on joint venture partners, subcontractors, suppliers, representatives, consultants and other business partners in connection with international business, including in emerging market countries.