Bell Helicopter officially opened a delivery center and two-bay paint facility at its location in Prague, Czech Republic today. This adds to the facility’s maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities, making it the company’s regional customization, delivery and aftermarket service center in Europe. The paint booth has been designed to accommodate all Bell civil helicopters, ranging from legacy products to those currently in development, among them the 525 Relentless super-medium twin. “By integrating the latest requirements for safety of operations, ease of maintenance, energy sustainability, environmental and ergonomics, we have been able to vastly improve the paint process,” the company said.
“Europe is a key market for us to continue to grow and develop our balanced business,” noted Bell Helicopter president and CEO Mitch Snyder. The company’s Prague facility is part of an expanding network of support and service facilities throughout Europe. Bell also has a supply center in Amsterdam, owns blade repair shop Rotor Blades in Warminster, England, and counts 16 customer service facilities in Europe and Russia.
The helicopter manufacturer announced last year that it will be partnering with sister company TRU Simulation for the first Bell Helicopter regional training center in Valencia, Spain. This facility is expected to open later this year.
Operator Experience
In discussions with reporters last month in Prague, three European operators gave their perspective on their experience with Bell helicopters. The meeting was staged as part of an effort by the Textron subsidiary to support its contention that it can challenge European manufacturers Airbus Helicopters and Leonardo-Finmeccanica (formerly AgustaWestland).
Viliam Krivàk, a pilot with Slovakian operator Air Transport Europe (ATE), spoke enthusiastically about the Bell 429. The company was formed in 1991 and is based at Poprad close to the Tatra Mountains in the north of the country. It specializes in rescues and emergency medical operations.
One year ago, the operator added its first Bell 429 to a fleet consisting of 11 AgustaWestland AW109K2s. It has three more 429s on order.
“The cabin volume of the 429 gives us more comfortable working conditions,” said Krivàk. “We have been able to install all the equipment we need for our missions without any difficulty. As for the maintenance schedule for the aircraft, it is markedly lighter than for other aircraft in the fleet. Taking account of the hours we fly, a detailed annual visit is all that’s required. That’s a big change.”
For his part, Christian Forghieri, managing partner and operations director with Italy’s Elicompany, told reporters that when his business bought a Bell 407GX in May last year, “there was no comparable aircraft with the same performance.” The turbine single is used mainly to carry passengers but also performs surveillance missions and is equipped with an infrared camera and laser tracking equipment.
“In addition to the [Airbus Helicopters] AS350BA we wanted to have a single capable of delivering the highest levels of performance for the needs of our clients,” said Forghieri. “With the Bell we have gained speed, comfort and the ability to carry an extra passenger. What’s more, we feel that the look of the aircraft is more flattering for the image of our business.”
The government of the Slovak Republic chose the Bell 429 because it expanded the scope of the missions it can perform. It now has a pair of 429s, in addition to its two Mil Mi-171s. The main benefits it has derived from the fleet modernization are more usable space in the cabin, more operational flexibility, less onerous maintenance needs and more efficient engines. Among other roles, the aircraft are used to transport the Slovak president and official government delegations.