Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to open the first Bell Helicopter authorized flight training school in China. Bell Helicopter and Guanchen Aviation signed the MOU during the opening ceremony of the 4th Annual Anyang International Aviation Sports Festival in Anyang, China.

“Bell Helicopter is committed to growing our customer support and services in China,” said Eric Cardinali, executive vice president, Customer Support and Services for Bell Helicopter. “Partnering with Guanchen Aviation to provide a high-quality, local flight training solution is an important first step in meeting our customer needs in the region.

“As the need for vertical lift emerges around the world, we intend to replicate the successful operation of the Bell Helicopter Training Academy, located in Fort Worth, Texas, as a critical element of our strategy. Opening the first Bell Helicopter authorized flight training school in China is a significant step as we begin this journey,” Cardinali said.

After the initial internal training cycle is complete, the Anyang-based Flight Training School will be certified to provide factory-approved initial and recurrent type training for Bell 206L and Bell 407 pilots. Over time, this Certified Training Facility (CTF) could expand to train more Bell aircraft types to meet future demands.