The Bell Helicopter Training Academy (BTA), announced that it has placed into service its new Bell 429 training helicopter. This 429 training helicopter was the first to be delivered to Bell Training Academy in support of its customers.

The addition of 429 to its existing fleet of aircraft provides the training academy with a comprehensive training solution for both maintainers and pilots.

“We at the Bell Training Academy are committed to providing our customers with industry leading training programs that create better, safer flight operations,” said Trey Wade, director of the Bell Training Academy. “To help better prepare our customers it was essential to have the Bell 429 on hand for all aspects of flight training.”

The Bell Training Academy offers a Bell 429 Pilot Transition Course that consists of more than 20 classroom hours, four hours of training time in the 429 Flight Training Device (FTD) and up to five hours of flight time in the new Bell 429 training helicopter with an additional two hours of FTD training and up to three hours of additional flight time in the Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) transition.

A pilot refresh course will be available next year and includes the entire 429 pilot training suite of classroom hours, FTD and flight time.

Earlier this year, BTA received Transport Canada and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certifications for the Bell 429 Field Maintenance Course and EASA certification for the Bell 429 Electrical/Avionics/AFCS/Maintenance Course.

The BTA began training for the first customer on the new 429 aircraft during the week of June 13.

The 429 was granted type certification in mid-2009 by Canadian, U.S. and European authorities to more stringent airworthiness requirements than any other light, twin-engine helicopter flying. Its maintenance program is the only one in the helicopter industry based on Maintenance Steering Group 3 (MSG-3) practices and the 429 is the first rotorcraft to have its maintenance program approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to these high standards.

Located at Alliance Airport in Fort Worth, Texas, the Bell Training Academy takes pride in delivering the finest helicopter training in the world with highly skilled professional pilot and technical instructors. Training at the BTA incorporates the latest technological advancements into its aviation training programs and continues to invest in the development of new, industry-leading initiatives to promote helicopter safety.

BTA provides comprehensive training courses on Bell products. For a complete schedule of all courses, call 1-800-368-2355, visit the Bell Helicopter Training Academy (BTA) site or contact BTA Administration directly at BTAAdmin@bellhelicopter.textron.com.

About Bell Training Academy
For more than 60 years the Bell Training Academy has provided world class, FAA-certified training at our facility in Fort Worth and at customer locations around the world. We have trained more than 100,000 customers representing over 120 countries and every type of helicopter operation.

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 tiltrotor 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