Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) may give up some of its Korean and Chinese sales responsibility for the Bell 429 light twin gained under its risk-sharing role in the new helicopter programme.
KAI is discussing partnering equipment supplier UII Aviation to aid sales in Korea and is working with Bell to decide on a Chinese sales strategy. UII is currently the sales agent for all Bell civil helicopters except the 427 and its successor, the 429. KAI was responsible for selling 427s in most of Asia, but failed to sell any and has been awarded the sales remit for the 429 in South Korea and China.
“For just one model to do all marketing activities by ourselves may not be very efficient,” says KAI strategic business development manager BK Lee. “For the 427 we put in a lot of marketing manpower for some time, but there was little outcome. So we’re a little more conservative and careful to expand our marketing team.”
KAI was this year appointed 429 cabin supplier for customers worldwide, but decided not to set up a second assembly line (Flight International, 5-11 April).
Lee says KAI is co-developing a new cabin for the 429 with Bell. Design work will conclude next month and KAI has begun producing parts of cabins for two prototypes and three production aircraft.
KAI’s first 429 structure will be shipped to Bell in late October or early November ahead of first flight in February. The cabin parts initially produced by Bell will be transferred to KAI in two phases after the 10th and 20th aircraft.
Bell has sold 115 aircraft and forecasts at least 235 sales in the next 10 years. KAI can produce 43 cabins a year and will need more tooling if sales exceed projections.
Lee says the Chinese market will take longer to develop and KAI and Bell are discussing how to penetrate it because KAI lacks the resources to do so alone.
BRENDAN SOBIE/SACHEON
Source: Flight International
