Aviation News – Bell Textron is expanding its presence in Asia-Pacific after securing new Bell 429 helicopter orders in Japan and completing a recent delivery to Indonesia, boosting regional emergency and utility aviation capacity.
Japan’s Nakanihon Air Co., Ltd. (NNK), one of the country’s largest helicopter operators, has signed an agreement to purchase two additional Bell 429 aircraft for helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) missions. The order follows the company’s earlier acquisition of two Bell 429s in 2017. NNK operates more than 10 Bell helicopters across the 430, 412 and 429 models and has served as an authorized Bell Customer Service Facility since 1994. Over roughly 60 years, the operator has acquired about 80 Bell aircraft, reflecting a long-standing industrial partnership.
The twin-engine Bell 429 is designed for rapid response operations, offering high cruise speeds, a spacious cabin and rear clamshell doors that allow quick loading of stretchers and medical crews. Its performance and safety margins make it suitable for rooftop hospital landings and confined urban zones, enabling faster patient transfers and improved survival outcomes during time-critical missions.
Photo Rob Vogelaar