Paraguayan industrial group Signature S.R.L. plans to add a Bell 505 Jet Ranger X to its fleet following the August 5 signing of a letter of intent with the U.S. manufacturer. The company, which specializes in services such as dredging and drainage, will use the aircraft for corporate transportation, adding to a fleet that already includes a Robinson R44 Raven II and a Beechcraft Baron 58.

The new Bell 505 model is due to complete certification before year-end, havin already logged more than 800 flight-test hours. With a cruise speed of 135 knots, the single-engine rotorcraft has a range of up to 360 nm and a useful load of 1,500 pounds. It is powered by the 504-shp Turbomeca Arrius 2R engine and the cockpit features the Garmin G1000H integrated avionics suite.
“The Bell 505 continues to generate excitement throughout Latin America; as customers begin to experience the aircraft’s capabilities, they will see the value proposition of integrating this aircraft into their daily operations,” commented Jay Ortiz, Bell Helicopters vice president for Latin American sales. “The Bell 505 is a value leader in the short light single market, and we look forward to delivering this high-performing aircraft to our customers.”
To date, Bell has logged 380 letters of intent for the new helicopter.