Kenya's KIDL Helicopters has taken delivery of a Bell 505 to supplement its previously all-Airbus fleet of H125, H130 and H145 types. The company provides mountain rescue, executive transport, luxury safaris, wildlife monitoring, photography, search missions and survey services throughout East Africa.

The aircraft was shipped from Bell's facility in Mirabel, Canada, to Africair Helicopter Support Limited (AHSL), a newly-established Kenya Civil Aviation Authority authorised maintenance organisation, where the aircraft was re-assembled. This Bell 505 was the first work in the facility located in Ruiru, just outside Nairobi.

It was then flown by KIDL CEO Captain Marco Brighetti to Wilson Airport in Nairobi to begin VIP transport operations.

Bell Helicopter has delivered a hundred 505 Jet Ranger X models around the world that are being used for many different missions, and this latest is the first in Kenya.