Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday announcing its newly opened Bell Helicopter Training Academy (BTA) in Fort Worth, Texas. U.S. Congressman Joe Barton, Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley and Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price joined Bell Helicopter’s president and CEO John Garrison to commemorate the occasion and have a first-hand look at the state-of-the-art facility.

To see images from the Bell Helicopter Training Academy Grand Opening, please follow this link.

“We continue to invest in our future to ensure we remain a global leader in the industry,” said John Garrison. “This is the final step in completing our consolidation efforts in the North Texas area, and we are proud of the Bell Helicopter team, community, customers and partners that made this vision a success.”

Speakers commented on how the new facility highlights the positive impact of general aviation throughout North Texas and the support of Bell Helicopter’s customers’ around the world. Also noted was Bell Helicopter’s commitment to Fort Worth, as well as the company’s desire to help revitalize Northeast Tarrant County.

“Tarrant County is proud to partner with Bell Helicopter on these corporate revitalization efforts, and the new construction and roadway improvements are a real boost to this area and should benefit every city in this part of the county,” said Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley.

The BTA is the final function to move to the main corporate campus as part of Bell Helicopter’s consolidation efforts in the North Texas area. Bell Helicopter began with the global headquarters ground breaking in October 2012 and with this final move, the company has consolidated more than 1.2 million square feet of excess space and are now saving $19 million in annual operating expenses.

“The City of Forth Worth is proud to be home to Bell Helicopter’s global headquarters, and we will be right beside all of you in the months and years ahead,” commented Mayor Price.

The 86,000 square foot facility comes complete with full flight simulators, new and updated flight technology demonstrators, a dedicated tower and flight line, as well as a maintenance hangar and classrooms. The company has trained more than 134,000 customers since 1946 from every market segment in more than 135 countries throughout the world. Bell Helicopter is proud to open the doors of their new training academy and welcome their current and future customers.

From Left to Right: State Representative Tony Tinderholt, General Manager of Global Customer Training Ray Lamas, Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley, Bell Helicopter President and CEO John Garrison, Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, U.S. Congressman Joe Barton, Tarrant County Commissioner Gary Fickes, State Representative Chris Turner, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bill Thornton