Story ID: 018HSNewsAINAug12.doc
Bell Approved for Maintenance in Ukraine
By: David A. Lombardo
Caption: 
Word Count: 178
Bell Helicopter’s Aviation Service maintenance facility in Prague, Czech Republic, has received a Part 145 maintenance organization approval certificate from the Ukraine State Aviation Administration. 
  
“The addition of a Ukrainian service offering enhances our ability to take care of our customers in Eastern Europe. Our mission is to make service expedient and efficient for them so their aircraft are ready to go when duty calls,” said Eric Cardinali, Bell Helicopter’s executive vice president of customer support and services. 
  
The approval allows the MRO provider to begin servicing the brand’s expanding fleet of helicopters in the region and follows EASA Part 145 approval. In addition to helicopter maintenance, the approval allows for a range of service offerings for Bell Helicopter sister company Cessna. Aviation Service provides modifications, upgrades, avionics and special-mission packages. 
  
Bell Helicopter currently has 19 customer support facilities in Europe and Russia. The company plans to continue to expand globally to meet the growing needs of its customers and their missions from emergency medical services to oil and gas.