South African Bell sales representative National Airways Corp. (NAC) took delivery of its first two Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopters in late March, and these were quickly followed by two more. NAC technicians have re-assembled the four 505s, and final delivery to the new owners was planned immediately after approval from South Africa’s Civil Aviation Authority.
An independent Bell representative for 28 years in 13 southern African countries, NAC expects to assemble and deliver four additional 505s by the end of 2018. NAC signed 13 letters of intent for 505s shortly after the introduction of the new helicopter at the 2014 Africa Aerospace and Defense show.
The new 505s were all purchased by individual owners, according to NAC. Assembly took place at NAC’s Rand Airport facility in Germiston, near Johannesburg. NAC also operates a helicopter charter service—NAC Helicopters Cape Town—and provides aeromedical transport in a Bell 407 for the Eastern Cape Department of Health. The 407 was recently upgraded with a full Spectrum Aeromed medical kit.
