Bell Delivers First of 12 Jet Ranger X Helos to Horizon
by Mark Huber – December 12, 2019, 1:54 PM
Bell delivered the first of a dozen Model 505 light single helicopters to the Horizon International Flight Academy of Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE), per an agreement signed last month at the Dubai Air Show. Horizon is the region’s largest independent helicopter flight training academy.
The handover took place on Thursday at Bell’s Mirabel, Quebec facility in a ceremony attended by Hareb Al Dhaheri, CEO Horizon Flight Academy International; Ambassador Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani, UAE Embassy in Canada; Fahad Harhara Al Yafei, Cluster CEO; and Steeve Lavoie, president of Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Ltd.
“We are glad to add Bell 505 helicopters to our all-Bell fleet that is comprised of Bell 206s, Bell 407s, and Bell 429s,” said Horizon’s Al Dhaheri. “This new addition will be an essential part of our training operations and will enable us to further expand our training offering.”
“Bell is proud to support and celebrate today’s delivery with Horizon,” said Sameer Rehman, Bell managing director for Africa and the Middle East. “The Bell 505 will be a great addition to the Horizon fleet and is an ideal aircraft in training helicopter pilots.” The helicopters will be configured for flight training with an integrated glass cockpit.
More than 200 Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopters are now in service, and the fleet has topped 20,000 flight hours.