also, and more importantly, the reassembly of the helicopter because many small countries north of South Africa have little to no maintenance support. Consequently, most imports are routed through South Africa where there are service center hubs. Following reassembly and import paper- work, the helicopters are then ferry-flown to the ultimate destination, such as DR of Congo or Tanzania.” The helicopter market in sub-equatorial
Africa has improved considerably since 2008 with demand for utility ships grow- ing among the mining industry and the nu- merous enterprises that support mining operations. The growth of utility helicop- ter operations is due primarily to the lack of good roads. Bota explains that “even short 50-mile trips can take hours, and, during the six month wet season the roads become virtually impassable. The highly profitable mining industry is supported by hundreds of technicians and administrators who must be on site, so the helicopter is the travel vehicle of choice.” How does growth of aviation overall, and helicopters in particular, in the lower
The growth of utility helicopter operations is due primarily to the lack of good roads.
African continent impact the much larger USA market? Research shows that 13 sales of Bell helicopters have occurred during the year to date to mid and sub- equatorial African countries, including South Africa, of which three were ex- ported from the USA. Only one of those was a new Bell helicopter. Further re- search shows that 16 Eurocopters were transacted in the same countries this year to date, of which eight were new models and none were exported from USA. Op- erators in South Africa such as Bionic Avi- ation view the business strategy within management of Eurocopter to include a strong support program which makes maintenance personnel and parts available following the sale of a new ship. Accord- ing to Bota, “support is critical to a deci-
sion to purchase and could bode well for Eurocopter sales during the forecasted growth of general aviation in these coun- tries.”
Often aircraft sale projects that require
export to a foreign buyer sound easy at in- ception but then the project takes on a life of its own as complexities intrude, and myriad challenges come to being in the middle phases of the sale. The reality is that the export of a heli-
copter from the USA to another country is always difficult, costly, and complex. However, such challenges met success- fully are ultimately rewarding. A good broker accepts those challenges as a rou- tine part of providing quality service in a professional manner to his clients.
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