With 2 Deliveries, and 1 Sale, the 429 Inches its Way to (Eventual?) Market Dominance

Bell's PR department was quick to crow about their increasing level of interest in the Bell 429 in africa, thanks to the recent sale of one, and delivery of 2 aircraft to the region.

While the sales are nice, a single new sale may not be quite the measure of success to claim the continent just yet - but the Bell 429 is a fine aircraft either way. 

"We are proud to support our customers in Africa with the Bell 429,” said Sameer Rehman, managing director overseeing the Africa and the Middle East markets at Bell. "With two now operating in South Africa and a third one soon to be operating in West Africa, the aircraft continues to excel across the many market segments for which it was designed. Featuring state-of-the-art technology to provide enhanced safety, comfort, performance and most importantly reliability, we are confident that these aircraft will help support whatever their missions entail." 

So, 3 Bell 429s, operating somewhere in the 11.7 million square miles of the continent could be said - at least through very rosy, optimistic glasses - to be a "popular choice for the African Market".

The most recent sale of a Bell 429 will see the delivery of one to Caverton Helicopters Limited, of Cameroon. The company will put theirs to work as an offshore oil and gas runabout, ferrying personnel from one worksite to another throughout West Africa.

“Having operated a variety of Bell products across our operations over the years, we are excited to continue with this brand, which is synonymous with safety and excellent performance,” said Captain Bello Ibrahim, managing director, Caverton Helicopters. “Introducing the Bell 429 into our fleet is an exciting milestone for us and will enable us to provide the best support for our oil and gas clients across the continent.”

FMI: www.bellflight.com