Light utility aircraft Bell 429 seen popular among PHL customers

AEROSPACE company Philjets Aero Services on Monday said the Bell 429, a light helicopter, continues to gain appeal among corporate customers in the Philippines.

“Bell Textron, Inc. together with its independent representative in the Philippines, Philjets Aero Services, [recently] delivered the 10th Bell 429 to a corporate customer in the country,” the Philippine-based aerospace company said in an e-mailed statement.

American aerospace manufacturer Bell Textron is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas.

This “demonstrates the Bell 429’s continued popularity among corporate customers in the Philippines who value the Bell 429’s reliability, smooth and quiet ride,” the company noted.

Philjets likewise said the Bell 429 had surpassed 500,000 global fleet hours earlier this year.

“The Bell 429 remains at the forefront as mission requirements evolve. Advanced capabilities of the 429 include single pilot IFR (instrument flight rules), Category A operations and an integrated avionics glass cockpit, designed to offer the best combination of flexibility, safety, and durability.”

The Bell 429 is considered capable of completing a range of missions including search and rescue, medical evacuations, natural disaster relief, national security, and military training.

“Along with the newest Bell 429 in the Philippines, there are currently more than 400 Bell 429 aircraft serving an array of customers, offering versatility through missions and excellent performance,” Philjets said. — Arjay L. Balinbin