Bell (Static Display 09; Chalet 10) announced at ABACE 2018 delivery of the first Bell 505 Jet Ranger X in New Zealand, to Rangitikei Helicopters, which will use the aircraft for agricultural services, general utility flights, and air transport. U.S.-based Bell, a Textron company, also recently delivered 505s to launch customers in Australia, Cambodia, and Japan. Entering service last year, the Bell 505 features a spacious cabin configurable for a wide variety of missions and payloads and a flat floor.

Bell also announced at the show the appointment of China Southern Airlines General Aviation as an authorized maintenance center for the Bell 407 in China. Established in 1980, the company provides helicopter-related services to domestic and overseas oil and gas companies, as well as powerline patrol, forest protection, search and rescue, and harbor navigation.

Bell’s agreement with China Southern Airlines General Aviation “demonstrates our commitment to providing our Bell 407 customers in China with the same industry-leading service and support that our customers globally have come to expect of us,” said Michael Reagan, Bell’s director of global services, promising to “expand our authorized maintenance center network and make the necessary investments to grow our in-country support” as the regional helicopter market continues to develop.