Atlanta – Bell Textron Inc. has announced that South Africa’s National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) has signed a purchase agreement for seven Bell 407GXi helicopters to support utility operations across the country.

The announcement was made during VAI Verticon 2026. The aircraft will be used for high-voltage powerline maintenance, emergency management and operational support related to South Africa’s national electricity transmission network.

UTILITY OPERATIONS SUPPORT

According to Bell, the Bell 407GXi is widely used in utility roles due to its operational flexibility and multi-mission capability.

Tim Evans, Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa at Bell, said the aircraft is well suited to utility operators working in demanding operational environments.

He noted that the NTCSA will join numerous operators worldwide who rely on the platform for critical utility operations.

FLEET MODERNISATION FOR GRID EXPANSION

The NTCSA is responsible for operating and maintaining South Africa’s national electricity transmission grid and plays a central role in expanding the country’s energy infrastructure.

Monde Bala, Chief Executive Officer of NTCSA, said the new helicopters will support the company’s aviation capability as it undertakes a major transmission network expansion programme.

According to Bala, the company is currently planning the construction of more than 14,000 kilometres of high-voltage and ultra-high-voltage transmission lines across South Africa to support additional electricity generation capacity. At the same time, maintaining the reliability and integrity of the existing grid remains a key priority.

He noted that dependable aviation support is essential for both the expansion programme and the ongoing maintenance of the national transmission network.

BELL 407GXi CAPABILITIES

The Bell 407GXi helicopter is equipped with single-pilot Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) capability and features an adjustable cabin configuration capable of seating up to five crew members.

The aircraft is fitted with the Garmin G1000H NXi integrated flight deck, an all-glass avionics suite designed to improve situational awareness and reduce pilot workload by presenting critical flight and safety information through integrated digital displays.

The platform is commonly used across a range of missions including utility work, search and rescue operations and emergency medical services.