First Bell helicopter delivered to Ethiopia
Bell Textron has delivered a Bell 505 helicopter to WA Oil Factory and Distribution PLC in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, its first corporate customer in the country
With this latest acquisition, there are almost 30 Bell 505s in operation across six countries in Africa and the Middle East.
WA Oil Factory and Distribution PLC was established in 2016 by CEO Worku Aytenew. The company’s portfolio of businesses includes mining, real estate and transportation, as well as the WA Oil Factory project. This oilseed crushing and crude oil refining factory, located at Debremarkos in Amhara Regional State, East Gojjam Zone, imports and distributes ETB5 billion (US$200 million) worth of palm oil.
“We are proud to accept the delivery of the first Bell 505 in Ethiopia,” said Aytenew. “Given the rugged terrain and limited road infrastructure in parts of the country, the Bell 505 will save us hours and sometimes days of travel time.”
The Bell 505 was delivered to Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport, which has an elevation of 7,625 feet. “We’ve been operating the aircraft at 8,100 feet with no problem at all,” said Captain Gilbert Gitonga, Pilot at WA Oil. “The 505 has plenty of power and is operating extremely well.”
The aircraft was delivered to one of Bell’s independent representatives for Africa, Africair’s Bell Customer Service Facility in Nairobi, Kenya, where it was re-assembled and hangered until its ferry flight to Addis Ababa.
Bell fleet in Africa continues to grow
“With this latest delivery, the Bell fleet in Africa continues to grow, building on its reputation for safety, reliability and cost-effectiveness,” said Jim Evans, CEO, Africair. “In particular, over recent years the Bell 505 has grown in popularity, with operators on the continent appreciating the flexibility and versatility of this light helicopter. We are looking forward to building this new relationship with WA Oil.”
With a speed of 125 knots (232 kilometers per hour) and a useful load of 1,500 pounds (680 kilograms), the Bell 505 is designed to be safe and easy to fly while providing unmatched value to the operator.
Meanwhile, Bell appointed Rheinland Air Service GmbH in Germany as a dealer for the Bell 505.
Clara Bullock
Clara Bullock is a writer for ITIJ and AirMed&Rescue. Initially a freelance writer for publications ranging from gardening news to music magazines, she has made the transition to writing about the ins and outs of travel insurance and aeromedicine. In her spare time she reviews books on Instagram and eats pasta.