Bell Training Academy Reaches New Flight Hour Peak

Bell Training Academy (BTA) has now racked up more than 240,000 flight hours since it began operations in 1946, Bell Textron announced this week at the Farnborough Air Show in the UK. As it celebrates its 80th anniversary year, BTA continues to strengthen its position as a provider of pilot and maintenance technician training, supporting growing demand from operators across Europe.

Last year the facility provided instruction to more than 2,000 pilots, part of Bell’s overall 140,000 pilots trained worldwide. Its former military pilot instructors also logged 2,600 flight hours in BTA-owned aircraft last year, reinforcing the academy’s hands-on training.

Through training facilities in the U.S., Europe and Asia, the OEM offers flexible, accessible programs through its global training network, providing experiences supported by skilled instructors and modern technology.

The manufacturer’s lead training facility in Europe—BTA Valencia in Spain—provides easy access to instruction for operators across the continent. The team in Valencia offers a variety of commercial and parapublic training. Like all BTA locations, its programs include classroom instruction, 3-D courseware, simulators, full touchdown autorotations, and hands-on training that reflects real-world missions and evolving operator needs.