Europe's VIP Market Seen as BA609's Best Market

The market for corporate and VIP transport in Europe is the most promising market for the BA609 civil tilt-rotor being developed by Bell Helicopter and AgustaWestland. Bell’s senior vice president of business development, Bob Fitzpatrick, told Rotor & Wing a recently concluded market study for the aircraft, currently in flight test in Texas and Italy, found orders from the European corporate/VIP sector is “the strongest path forward” for the aircraft. The manufacturers, who report orders for more than 60 of the aircraft, aim to gain certification of the BA609 by late 2010 or early 2011. For related news