PhilJets expands fleet with new helicopter

MANILA, Philippines - Aviation services provider PhilJets Group has expanded its fleet with the arrival of the new Bell 407GX Helicopter.

In a statement, the company said the newly delivered helicopter is the eight aircraft under its fleet, adding it is the only Bell 407GX Helicopter currently available for charter in the Philippines.

“PhilJets is thrilled to have a new type of aircraft to join its existing line-up which consists of four Airbus H130s, one Airbus AS350B2, and two business jets which are the Cessna Citation XLS+ and the Bombardier Challenger 350,” PhilJets said, noting that 80 percent of its fleet are brand new.

Having both Bell and Airbus brand to its helicopter fleet, the boutique business aviation group said it is now able to meet the variety of needs to cater to the most demanding customers.

PhilJets chairman and CEO Thierry Tea earlier said the company plans to expand its fleet, in line with providing more aviation services to its customers.

“Our objective is to reach 10 aircraft in our fleet this year to provide the relevant quality service for our customers,” he said.

Meanwhile, PhilJets said the new aircraft is a perfect choice for those who prefer club seating configuration, unlike the H130 and the AS350B2, which have front facing seats.

“Most of our helicopters have forward-facing seat configuration, which are proven to be ideal for tours and sightseeing flights. Now, we can offer club seating experience to our customers  who prefer having conversations on board,” Choy Elciario, in charge of air charter sales for PhilJets, said.

The Bell 407GX, which is known for its speed, maneuverability, and comfort, is equipped with a Rolls Royce 250-C47B/8 turbine FADEC engine that delivers exceptional performance – boasting a 133 kts (246 km/hr) maximum speed.

“The rotorcraft’s configurable cabin is fitted with five club-passenger seats with an additional passenger seat in the cockpit for single-pilot operations,” the company said.

In addition, Bell 407GX is also fitted with up to 2,558-lb payload to accommodate an array of luxury and operational rides.

“We are eager to start the operations of the first Bell Helicopter of our fleet. At the moment, we are in the process of finalizing the preparation for the operational launch,” Geoffroy Cahen, head of sales and marketing, said.

PhilJets said it plans to begin operations of the newly-delivered aircraft by the end of this month.

“We have invested in training and have added very experienced pilots and technicians that have a strong knowledge of this new type of helicopter,” Cahen said.

Tea said with the expansion of its fleet, PhilJets is aiming for an increase in revenues to P150 million this year from a little over P90 million last year.

“We are in an industry requires huge resources in a lot of aspects, from human capital to assets and equipment but also in terms of infrastructure, systems and if we do not grow further, it is challenging to be sustainable, because technology evolves very fast and the market also,” he said.