Bell Helicopter officially opened a delivery center and two-bay paint facility at its location in Prague, Czech Republic on May 12. This adds to the facility’s maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) 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 the525 Relentlesssuper-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 companysaid.
“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, UK, and counts 16 customer service facilities in Europe andRussia.
Since 2010, when Bell acquired Czech company Aviation Service, the U.S. manufacturer has been better placed to extend its reach across the European market and beyond. It now has representation as far afield as Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.
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 thisyear.
“Bell Helicopter is at a key point in its European investment plans,” said Patrick Moulay, sales and marketing v-p. “The training organization in Valencia is the last stone in the building. The first deliveries of the Bell 505s ordered by European operators is evidence of the dynamism in this region.”
In discussions with reporters last month in the Czech capital Prague, three European operators gave their perspective on their experience with Bell Helicopters’ aircraft. The meeting was staged as part of an effort by the Textron Aviation subsidiary to support its contention that it can challenge leading 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.
In June 2015, the operator added its first Bell 429 to a fleet consisting of 11 Leonardo Helicopters 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 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 at the time his company bought a Bell 407GX in May 2015, “there was no comparable aircraft with the same performance,” The single-engine model is mainly used to carry passengers but is also pressed into service for surveillance missions and is equipped with an infra-red camera and laser tracking equipment.
“In addition to the [Airbus Helicopters] AS350BA we wanted to have a single-engine 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 increased 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.