China’s police, sightseeing firms snap up Bell helicopters despite safety fears - South China Morning Post

Ralph JenningsPublished: 9:00pm, 4 Oct 2026A range of public and private-sector Chinese buyers have acquired a total of 44 small-model Bell helicopters, often for sightseeing and corporate travel. This makes China the vendor’s second biggest market in the Asia-Pacific, with growing demand for more despite safety concerns surrounding rotary-wing aircraft, an aviation services firm said.China lagged behind only South Korea in the total number of five-seat Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopters, according to a statement by the Hong Kong-based Asian Sky Group.Its manufacturer, Texas-based Bell, was the world’s second biggest brand of turbine helicopters in 2024 to 2025 after Airbus, the Rotortrade dealership said in an annual industry report. The model launched in 2014 has sold a total of 700 worldwide.

Customers in China include police agencies, corporations and operators of aerial sightseeing trips, Asian Sky Group consultancy services director Dennis Lau said.