Story ID: 1112112mx
Bell Helicopter Makes Strong Move in China
By: David A. Lombardo
Caption: 
Word Count: 257
Bell Helicopter has announced a substantial investment in its support of operations in China. The OEM has signed a memorandum of understanding to assist with the establishment of a maintenance training facility in Guangdong Province. The MOU with Guangzhou Civil Aviation College focuses on training for the Bell 206L and Bell 407 and includes access to training-course materials, electronic training systems and continued support throughout training.

The Guangzhou College maintenance training facility is authorized to conduct factory-approved maintenance and repair training for the Bell 206L and Bell 407. Over time, this certified training facility (CTF) could expand to deliver maintenance training on other Bell helicopters to meet future demand. It is the second MOU Bell Helicopter signed this year to further its training capabilities in China; the first was with Guanchen Aviation, to open the first Bell Helicopter authorized flight training school in that country.

Bell also announced it has appointed two customer service facilities in China. H&P General Aviation Service (H&P) in Guangzhou, which is authorized to perform field maintenance on the Bell 407. H&P has served as an authorized propeller service facility for Bell Helicopter’s sister company, Cessna Aircraft, since July 2010. The company is collocated with the Guangzhou Civil Aviation College.

The second customer service facility is Shanghai Kingwing General Aviation, which currently provides charter, training, leasing, overhaul and operational management from five bases in Eastern China. As a Bell Helicopter authorized CSF, Kingwing is approved to perform field maintenance on the Bell 429.