Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company announced today that the Bell Helicopter Training Academy has received European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Training Approval for Bell 206 series, 407 and 412 helicopters.

In addition to the normal theory approvals, Bell Helicopter’s Training Academy has been granted practical approval for the 206, 407, and 412 models, making it the first training school anywhere in the world to receive practical training approval from EASA.

Training academy graduates can now drastically reduce the amount of on-the-job proficiency demonstration they need to become type-certified as a mechanic under European regulations.

“Rounding out our EASA training approvals, when combined with our many Transport Canada approvals, further establishes the Bell Helicopter Training Academy as the premier helicopter maintenance training school in the world,” stated Trey Wade, director Bell Helicopter Training Academy.  “We are honored to become the first school to be granted practical training approval from EASA. This achievement provides even more differentiation from our competitors.”

As a EASA Part 147 approved maintenance training organization the Bell Helicopter Training Academy is now approved to provide B1.3 Maintenance Training Courses on all variants of the 206 product line (A, B, and L) as well as B1.3 and B2 Electrical Maintenance Courses on the 407 and 412 helicopter models.

These additional capabilities supplement existing EASA approvals for the 427 and 429 aircraft, making it possible for the Bell Helicopter Training Academy to conduct EASA approved maintenance training on every Bell helicopter currently produced.

“Bell Helicopter is committed to providing our customers with the safe and innovative training solutions,” said Charles Fisher, manager technical training. “Achieving these EASA approvals allows us to conduct maintenance training for Bell Helicopter’s entire product line and satisfy our customers training requirements, not only in Europe, but throughout the world, on a global scale.”

Located at Fort Worth Alliance Airport, the Bell Helicopter Training Academy takes pride in delivering the finest helicopter training in the world with highly skilled professional pilot and technical instructors. Their training 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.

The Bell Helicopter Training Academy also boasts the most comprehensive collection of helicopter maintenance training devices in the industry, allowing the students the rare opportunity to immediately augment their classroom knowledge with hands-on application.

Recent improvements in Bell Helicopter’s maintenance training programs include the installation of electronic classrooms, upgrades to composite maintenance trainers, and non-destructive inspection training for maintenance technicians.

The Bell Helicopter Training Academy provides comprehensive training courses on Bell products. For a complete schedule of all courses, call 1-800-368-2355, visit www.bellhelicopter.com/en/training or contact the Bell Helicopter Training Academy Administration directly at BTAAdmin@bellhelicopter.textron.com.  For information concerning European Aviation Safety Agency and Transport Canada maintenance training course approvals, please contact Connie Springer at CSpringer@bellhelicopter.textron.com.

About Bell Helicopter Training Academy
For more than 60 years, the Bell Helicopter Training Academy has provided world class, certified training at our facility in Fort Worth and at customer locations around the world. We have trained more than 120,000 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.