American chopper maker Bell Textron eyes 6% growth in PHL business

LOOK: The Bell 505 helicopter unit, officially launched today. || @gmanews pic.twitter.com/gdZv18ySpr

— Jon Viktor Cabuenas (@ViktorCabuenas) August 5, 2019

American helicopter manufacturer Bell Textron Inc. is eyeing a 6% business growth in the Philippines, banking on additional sales from the Bell 505 aircraft.

There could even be a spike in sales if government or military sales are factored into the equation.

The company on Monday launched the five-seater Bell 505, which sells for $1.6 to $1.7 million, compared with other units of the company that starts at $3.3 million.

In an interview with reporters in Pasay City, Bell managing director for Asia Pacific David Sale said the company is now looking at a growth rate of 5 to 6%.

“If you look at what you got, what the growth rates are for the country, I believe they are between 5 and 6%. We will continue to see a growth of, I would say, to be about the same,” Sale noted.

“What will spike in that is your government purchases—when your militaries, or your air force, or your coast guard, when they make a purchase,” he emphasized.

The 505 has a cabin floor area of 2.0 square meters, and a baggage compartment volume of 0.5 cubic meters.

A Turbomeca Arrius 2R engine and a high-inertia rotor system power the 505 to a maximum cruise of 231 kilometers per hour, and an endurance capacity of over 3.9 hours.

The Bell 505 unit, cruising at an altitude of 300 feet || @gmanews pic.twitter.com/IAsErXxZuy

— Jon Viktor Cabuenas (@ViktorCabuenas) August 5, 2019

Sale said Bell is also banking on the country’s business sector.

“From the commercial side of the house, I think we see a nice growth in the next five years, but what will we see typically is, like among most industries, is almost that the growth is taking place within the economy of the Philippines,” he said.

Government and the commercial orders are equal so far in the Philippine market.

“It’s very well-balanced in the Philippines. So when a government makes a big purchase, then that year might be (bigger for government), but then what you see on the commercial side, it’s very standard,” Sale noted.

The company has so far sold six units of the 505 in the Philippines—three to businesses, and three others to PhilJets Aero Services Inc.

“We see as long as the growth of the economy is taking place in the Philippines, we see that in the helicopter market as well,” Sale said. —VDS, GMA News