Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company announced that it has signed a distribution agreement with Van Horn Aviation LLC for the 206 composite tail rotor blade supplemental type certificate (STC) No. SR02249LA.

This STC allows for installation of the Van Horn composite tail rotor blade onto the Bell 206B and 206L series aircraft.  The composite tail rotor blade is easily identifiable with its three high visibility stripes and carries its own unique part number 2062200-301.  It is available exclusively through Aeronautical Accessories

“We recognize our customers’ need for improved, cost-competitive replacement parts and are committed to finding ways of increasing productivity and reducing direct maintenance costs of our aircraft,” said R. Danny Maldonado, Senior Vice President and Chief Services Officer, Bell Helicopter. “Bell Helicopter has and will continue to develop strategic relationships, such as the one with Van Horn Aviation, to help us accomplish this goal.”

The composite tail rotor STC offers customers the advantages of:

• 3-year, 1,500 hour non-prorated warranty
• Composite material for corrosion resistance
• Reduction in tail rotor noise signature
• Increase in tail rotor authority at higher altitudes
• 5,000 hour life for reduction in direct maintenance costs

Bell Helicopter Engineering has reviewed and assessed this STC from a design, manufacture and certification standpoint.

“Bell Helicopter firmly believes that all flight critical parts used on Bell aircraft should meet our own stringent requirements for safety and reliability,’ said Maldonado. “This STC allows us to provide our customers with a product that not only adds value to their mission, but also meets Bell Helicopter’s rigorous engineering standards.”

This distribution agreement is part of Bell Helicopter’s ongoing strategy to maintain the mission capabilities and cost competitiveness of its legacy aircraft. In certain instances, that strategy includes developing relationships with strategic third party providers to help realize this goal.

Bell Helicopter also develops, tests, and certifies market-competitive replacement parts through Aeronautical Accessories (AA) using Bell Helicopter engineering to ensure full compatibility with aircraft design.

For more information contact the Aeronautical Accessories sales team at 1-800-251-7094, sales@aero-access.com , or visit www.aero-access.com.

About Aeronautical Accessories
Aeronautical Accessories is a Bell Helicopter/Textron Inc., company. The organization designs, manufactures, warehouses, and distributes the most advanced helicopter parts and accessories through a worldwide network in over 110 countries.  The ISO:9001/AS9100 certified organization has been distributing innovative, quality rotorcraft products since 1979.
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.

Photo – from left to right: R. Danny Maldonado, Senior Vice President Customer Support and Chief Services Officer, Bell Helicopter; Jennifer Lunceford, Sales and Marketing Manager, Aeronautical Accessories and James R. Van Horn, President Van Horn Aviation, LLC.