Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today that the Bell Helicopter Training Academy (BTA) has received European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approval  to provide B1.3 Maintenance Training courses on Bell 212 helicopters.  As an EASA Part 147 approved maintenance training organization, the BTA is now approved to provide EASA maintenance training on all variants of the Bell 206 product line (A, B, and L) as well as 407, 412, 427, 412 helicopter models.

In addition to the normal theoretical (academic) approval for the Model 212, EASA also granted the BTA practical (hands-on) training approval which will drastically reduce the amount of on-the-job proficiency demonstration needed to become type-certified as a mechanic under European regulations.  In 2012, the BTA became the first helicopter training school in the world to receive both theoretical practical training approvals from EASA.

“We continue to seek and find solutions to our operators’ growing training needs,” stated Danny Maldonado, senior vice president and Chief Services Officer for Bell Helicopter. “Expanding the regulatory approvals of our unparalleled breadth of Bell training offerings is part of that solution.”

“Bell Helicopter is committed to providing our customers with safe and innovative training solutions,” stated Trey Wade, director Bell Helicopter Training Academy. “These EASA approvals allow us to satisfy more of our customers’ training requirements, not only in Europe, but also, throughout the world.”

Located at Fort Worth Alliance Airport, the BTA 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 BTA 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.

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 atCSpringer@bellhelicopter.textron.com.

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.