Tokyo, Japan (7 February 2018) - Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today the delivery of two Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopters to SECO International. These are the first Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopters delivered to a Japanese customer and will be used for passenger transport, sightseeing, aerial photography and television broadcasting.
“The delivery of the first two Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopters to SECO International marks another key milestone for Bell Helicopter and the 505 in Japan,” said Michael Reagan, Bell Helicopter’s managing director for Japan. “We look forward to deepening our successful relationship with SECO International as we work together to put these two 505s into service and the smooth delivery of the remaining 505s on order.”
SECO International signed a letter of intent in March 2015 for 10 Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopters. Founded in 1983, SECO International of Nagoya operates a fleet of light helicopters and manages private owners’ aircraft with full operational support at its Nagoya Airport facility.
“At SECO International, we have been looking forward to operating the Bell 505 and are delighted to be the first Japanese company to take delivery of the aircraft. We remain confident that the Bell 505, with its best-in-class performance, safety and design will help us enhance our service offerings and bring unmatched value to our customers,” said Masahiro Minagawa, president of SECO International.
The reliability, speed, performance, and maneuverability of the Bell 505 is integrated with a flat floor, open cabin that is configurable for a wide variety of missions and payloads. The spacious cabin can be configured to carry up to four passengers or configured for internal cargo missions by removing quick disconnect rear cabin seats and/or copilot seat. The Bell 505’s flat floor cabin design and large rectangular baggage compartment lets the Bell 505 adapt to your changing mission needs. These features combined with a proven and reliable drivetrain and rotor system make the Bell 505 a true multi-mission aircraft in the short light single-engine market.