Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

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Mark Huber

Bell Helicopter (Booth 317) formally launched its parts-only aftermarket service plans for customers with in-production and some legacy helicopters.

 


Bell’s Customer Advantage Plans will offer a fixed cost per flight hour with the goal of either meeting or beating the direct operating costs customers are already experiencing, according to Glenn Isbell, executive vice president, customer support and services. Isbell told an audience here at Heli-Expo that the plans were “not about high prices and partial coverage that are available in other areas. This is about guaranteed direct maintenance costs at a price that strengthens your business.”

 


The first announced customer for the plan is HEMS provider&nbsp;CareFlite&nbsp;of North Texas, which operates four Bell 407GXs.&nbsp;Bell&nbsp;also announced comprehensive coverage on the new 505 light single for parts and the engine for around $300 per flight hour. The rate couples Bell’s Customer Advantage Plan with&nbsp;Turbomeca’s&nbsp;Service by the Hour program. Customers will have premier access to Bell Helicopter's dynamic components and Turbomeca's standard engine exchange at no extra charge.

 


The Customer Advantage Plans feature two simple comprehensive plans with holistic coverage options including the standard and premier plans. Both cover the basic helicopter configuration with optional coverage for non-standard kits. Customers get preferred rates at Bell customer service facilities, the plans are transferable upon aircraft resale and there&nbsp;are&nbsp;no “buy-ins” for select premier fleet customers.

 


Isbell said, “There’s really two different offerings that we are going to have. There are&nbsp;the&nbsp;plans that we are going to sell to new aircraft. Those don’t change much and there is not a lot of variation. We’ll take into account how big a fleet they have and how much they buy, but they are pretty standard. Our big difference is that we are offering these to existing fleets. That is where we will tailor them specifically to how many aircraft they have, where their aircraft are in their operation.”

 


Isbell said the program&nbsp;may&nbsp;eventually be expanded to include labor.

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

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