Bell Helicopter and Mitsui Bussan Aerospace Complete
Agreement for Seven Additional Aircraft
Press Contact
Kathy Searle
(817) 280-8245 (office)
(706) 836-3024 (cell)
ksearle@bellhelicopter.textron.com
Press Contact
Bridget Hall
817-280-7963 (office)
817-964-0334 (cell)
bmmeyer@bellhelicopter.textron.com
FARNBOROUGH, England (July 19, 2010) - Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, and Mitsui Bussan Aerospace Co., Ltd announced the agreement for the sale of seven additional helicopters. The deal includes four new Bell 429s helicopters and three Bell 412s.
Purchased for private customers in Japan, these helicopters will be used for a multitude of missions from utility to corporate transport and emergency medical services (EMS).
"This contract demonstrates our confidence in Bell Helicopter to meet all of our customers' mission requirements and expands our portfolio of helicopter services," said Mr. Yukihiro Tanaka, CEO, Mitsui Bussan Aerospace Co., Ltd. "We are honored to be part of the extended Bell family and look forward to strengthening our partnership even more into the future."
Mitsui Bussan Aerospace has been the Bell Helicopter independent representative in Japan for more than 50 years. Over the course of those five decades Mitsui Bussan Aerospace has been responsible for inaugurating more than 1400 helicopters into the country.
"Bell helicopters are known for their rugged reliability and unparalleled performance. Our customers depend on these aircraft to support the work they do every day," said Larry D. Roberts, Bell Helicopter senior vice president, Commercial Business. "We are committed to building on the long-standing tradition of working with Mitsui Bussan Aerospace and partnering to provide operators in Japan with the safest, most reliable helicopter solution."
Certified as a single-pilot instrument flight rules (SPIFR), Category A helicopter under the latest requirements of Part 27 airworthiness rules, the 429 offers the largest cabin in its class and has raised industry standards in terms of safety, maintainability, and performance.
So far this year the 429 has flown more than 1300 potential customers in demonstration flights throughout Asia. The 429 has also provided customer demonstration flights in Latin America and is currently on tour in Europe
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About Mitsui Bussan Aerospace
Mitsui Bussan Aerospace is the sole authorized Bell Helicopter representative in Japan, providing sales and support services of helicopters and Bell Helicopter genuine spare parts to customers.
About Bell Helicopter
Bell Helicopter, a wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military, manned and unmanned vertical lift aircraft and the pioneer of the revolutionary tilt rotor aircraft. Globally recognized for world-class customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell's global workforce serves customers flying Bell aircraft in more than 120 countries.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company , Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. More information is available at www.textron.com.
http://www.bellhelicopter.com
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