Abu Dhabi has placed the world’s first ever order of the Bell 412EPI helicopter intended for offshore oilfield use.
Bell Helicopter, a US-based manufacturer owned by Textron is expecting “several” more orders in the region.
It is an upgrade to the 412EP. It can accommodate 13 passengers, and built with a rugged airframe for use in life and rescue operations. The main competitor would be the Q400 NextGen by Bombardier, which was also purchased by Abu Dhabi Aviation.
The company currently has some 2,000 helicopters in use in the Middle East. It expects that number to grow to 3,000 within the next 15 years as it looks to open an office in the UAE early next year to cater to the rest of the region.
“This is an important region for us. We have increased our sales staff in the region and we have a much more localised team,” said John Garrison, the president and chief executive of Bell Helicopter. “We will have the first delivery of the first 412EPI in Abu Dhabi. That aircraft will be delivered before the end of the year.”
Bell has a 30 per cent market share of the Middle East’s helicopter market.
The biggest market for its aircraft is the offshore oil and gas sector, but the company is also seeing an increasing demand for emergency medical services, particularly after the disaster caused by typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.
“Anytime there is a natural disaster of any kind, governments realise there is a shortage of vertical lift equipment. This region has recognised that as well and that’s what governments are looking for, the ability to respond to crises quickly,” said Mr Garrison. “It [emergency response services] is a pretty nascent industry in the Middle East and an opportunity for growth.”
Globally, sales of helicopters for commercial use grow at a rate similar to GDP but the Middle East sales are exceeding that, said the Bell executive.
Bell Helicopters’ commercial sales from 2011 to 2012 grew 50 per cent, although that has slowed over the past year due to ongoing conflicts in the region.
“There’s no doubt the disruption in the region has impacted sales of new equipment, it’s delayed but the demand is still there. We believe it will come back,” said Mr Garrison.
To ramp up sales, the company is looking to adapt its future helicopters more to the needs of the region, which suffers from harsher environments.
Currently, the UAE has seen the most growth in the region, but Iraq is also a keen purchaser of Bell’s helicopters as it continues to develop its oil and gas capabilities.
“Right now in the Middle East the commercial side is stronger than military. There’s a vibe here that is hard to quantify, it is a stronger feeling from two years ago and we have several strong leads from both military and commercial sales,” said Mr Garrison.
thamid@thenational.ae
