Bell celebrated delivering a pair of Model 429 helicopters yesterday to EDIC Horizon International Flight Academy. Based at Al Ain International Airport Zone, the flight school trains rotorcraft pilots with an all-Bell fleet, including Bell 206s and 407s. The 429 twins will be used for instrument, multi-engine, and special-mission training.
Hareb Thani Al Dhaheri, EDIC Horizon CEO, said, “Bell helicopters have been an essential part of our training operations since our inception, and the new aircraft will enable us to further expand our training offering.” He told AIN he expects to train about 25 pilots for multi-engine ratings in the first year, ramping up to 40 to 50 the second year and going up from there. He also said EDIC Horizon is considering adding more single-engine helicopters to its training fleet within the coming year.
From a podium in front of the Bell 429, Sameer Rehman, Bell managing director for Africa and Middle East, said, “There are now 332 Bell 429s in operation around the world, exceeding 330,000 hours of operation on the global fleet. This celebration is a key milestone for Bell as it demonstrates the traction the Bell 429 has gained in the Middle East.”
Bell presents the 429 as having the lowest vibration levels in its class, meeting or exceeding airworthiness requirements for passenger safety. Composite and aluminum construction optimizes “the balance between rigidity, flexibility, and durability,” said Bell.
Bell executive v-p for commercial sales and marketing Patrick Moulay spoke about the business relationships that led to the deal with EDIC Horizon. “I believe in the importance of relationships and trust,” he said.
