Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today it has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Fairway Holdings for a Bell 505 Jet Ranger X. This is the first Bell 505 signed for in Sri Lanka. The aircraft will be used for private travel and tourism across multiple destinations around the island.

Bell Helicopter leadership and representatives from Infotechs, Bell Helicopter Independent Representative in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, joined Fairway Holdings to sign for the aircraft.

“With a vision to further enhance the link between tourism and domestic aviation in Sri Lanka, Fairway Holdings is paving the way for enhanced domestic aviation operations in the country,” said Mr. Hemaka de Alwis, Chairman of Fairway Holdings. “The Bell 505 combines proven technology with the latest advancements, and we are confident the aircraft will bring added customer satisfaction and endless travel possibilities to our clients.”

Fairway Group is a multifaceted corporate entity involved in real estate management and property development, renewable energy projects, manufacturing and trading operations, provisioning of financial services, pharmaceuticals and most recently the travel & leisure industry. The Fairway Group stands as one of Sri Lanka’s leading and fastest growing, dynamic emerging corporations.

“The Bell 505 is ideally suited for travel and tourism, and we are proud that customers around the world continue to recognize its unique qualifications and performance capabilities that bring added value to their operations,” said Sameer A. Rehman, Bell Helicopter’s managing director of Asia Pacific. “It is an important achievement for Bell Helicopter, as Sri Lanka is emerging as a top travel destination for pristine beaches, world-class resorts and cuisine, and the Bell 505 will provide efficient transportation for discerning travelers. Bell Helicopter is proud to be a part of the growth of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry.”

With a cruise speed of 125 knots (232 km/h), range of 360 nautical miles (667 km) and useful load of 1,500 pounds (608 kg), the Bell 505 is designed to be safe and easy to fly while providing significant value to the operator. The customer-driven design of the aircraft places safety, performance and affordability at the forefront, blending proven systems with advanced technology and a sleek, modern design. The Garmin G1000H Integrated Avionics Suite provides pilots critical flight information at a glance to maximize situational awareness. Pilot workload is further reduced by the Turbomeca Arrius 2R engine with dual channel Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC).

“We are delighted to sign with Fairway Holdings for the first Bell 505 in Sri Lanka and look forward to building our relationship into the future,” added Rehman.

Every Bell Helicopter is backed by the largest support network in the industry with over one hundred Authorized Customer Service Facilities located around the world. Ranked number one by customers for 22 consecutive years in the Helicopter Product Support Survey from Professional Pilot Magazine, Bell Helicopter has also earned top honors in Vertical Magazine’s first-ever comprehensive helicopter manufacturer’s survey. Bell Helicopter is committed to having resources where customers operate to speed up delivery of service and support, and give customers access to service professionals that are easy to reach, know the operating environment and understand their needs.