Jamaica purchases the Bell 505

The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) adds a new Bell type to its existing inventory of Bell 206, 407, 412 and 429s as they have ordered six Bell 505s.

The light single-engined Jet Ranger X will be used within the JDF Caribbean Military Aviation School (CMAS) at Kingston/Norman Manley International airport and Up Park Camp (Jamaica). The 505s will also be used in support of Medical Evacuation (MedEvac), Search and Rescue (SAR), humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and national security missions on the island.

As the five-seat Bell 505 shows similarities with the Bell 429, an easy embed of operations within the JDF is expected.

It is not expected that the 505s are replacing an existing type of the JDF as most helicopters are relatively new (up to maximum eight years old). The JDF is currently equipped with three 206s (assigned to the CMAS), three 407s (assigned to 3rd Flight), two 412EPs and five 429s (assigned to 2nd Flight). The 407s will be replaced by the 429s. Just recently, the CMAS was pampered with two new 206s (after one crashed) and another 412EPi is on order.