Kerry Lynch stepped into the role of editor of the&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;monthly magazine in May 2022 after serving with&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;for eight years. She joined&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;in December 2014 as a senior editor covering Washington and business aviation news. She has also served on Convention News teams, including as editor of&nbsp;HAI Convention News. Lynch previously spent 25 years with Aviation Week. During her time there, she reported for and later steered&nbsp;The Weekly of Business Aviation, oversaw business aviation content on the&nbsp;Aviation Week Intelligence Network, served on the&nbsp;Show News&nbsp;staff, and held roles as the Washington columnist for&nbsp;Business &amp; Commercial Aviation&nbsp;and&nbsp;Overhaul &amp; Maintenance&nbsp;monthly magazines. In 2021 she was honored with the National Business Aviation Association Platinum Wing Award for lifetime achievement in journalism and was the 2004 recipient of the National Air Transportation Association’s Aviation Journalism Excellence Award. She also has been a recipient of an Aerospace Media Award for business aviation (2022) and NBAA Gold Wing Award (2003, 2024). Lynch graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor of arts in journalism.

Editor, AIN monthly magazine

Kerry Lynch

Bell secured its first purchase agreement for its 525 super-medium twin from Norwegian petroleum refiner Equinor for use in North Sea offshore operations. Equinor ordered 10 of the all-new helicopters with deliveries anticipated to begin in 2026.
The sale marks a significant milestone for Bell, which is hoping the 525 will carve a new niche in the super-medium class that could compete against large helicopters in the oil and gas and other sectors such as corporate, SAR, troop transport, and public safety. The largest civil helicopter that Bell has built, the 525 can fly up to 580 nm, reach a speed of 160 kts, and carry 16 passengers with two crew.
Bell has long eyed the North Sea market for the 525, opening an “experience center” for the model at Stavanger Airport in 2021. “Our relationship with Equinor will enhance the standard of innovation for oil and gas missions and North Sea operations,” said Danny Maldonado, chief commercial officer for Bell. “The Bell 525 technology provides a generational leap forward and will revolutionize offshore oil and gas operations by providing enhanced safety capabilities, reliability, and optimized operations.”
Norwegian Aviation &amp; Defense Group, representing Bell in Norway, supported the sale. “Bell has delivered aircraft and reliable services for more than 30 years to Norwegian operators, both in the government and commercial spheres and will continue to do the same to the Norwegian Continental Shelf and the Energy sector,” said Norwegian Aviation &amp; Defense Group CEO Ole Petter Bakken.
While it awaits certification, Bell is continuing production on the model at its assembly center in Amarillo, Texas, saying it expects offshore-configured 525s to come off the line this year.

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Bell Lands First Purchase Agreement for 525 Super-medium Helicopter

Equinor ordered 10 for North Sea operations

Norwegian petroleum refiner Equinor ordered 10 Bell 525s for use in North Sea offshore operations, marking the first purchase order for the model.

Bell Lands First Purchase Agreement for Super-medium 525 Helicopter

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