Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today that Aviation Service a.s., its maintenance service facility in Prague, Czech Republic,  has received a Part 145 Maintenance Organization Approval certificate from the Ukraine State Aviation Administration. Having already achieved European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Part 145 approval, this will allow Bell Helicopter to begin servicing its expanding fleet of helicopters in Ukraine.

In February 2010, Bell Helicopter announced the acquisition of Aviation Service a.s., a world-class provider of modifications, upgrades, avionics, and special mission packages based in Prague, Czech Republic. The approval for Aviation Service to begin maintenance, repair and overhaul on Bell helicopters in Ukraine signifies the growing presence of Bell Helicopter in Europe and represents its commitment to providing critical support to its European customers. In addition to helicopter maintenance, the Aviation Service approval in Ukraine allows for a wide range of service offerings for Bell Helicopter’s sister Textron Inc. company, Cessna.

“We are excited to have the support and approval of the Ukraine SAA,” said Eric Cardinali, Bell Helicopter’s executive vice president of Customer Support and Services. “The addition of a Ukrainian service offering enhances our ability to take care of our customers in Eastern Europe. Our mission is to make service expedient and efficient for them so their aircraft is ready to go when duty calls.”

Bell Helicopter currently has 19 customer support facilities in Europe and Russia, and will continue to expand globally in order to meet the growing needs of its customers and their missions from emergency medical services to oil and gas.

“Customers in Ukraine requested support and our response was to gain Part 145 approval by the Ukraine SAA within three months,” commented Gordon Harveson, General Manager Bell Services Group Europe. “This continues our expansion of support services to our European, Russian and Ukrainian customers and further reflects our commitment to Bell helicopter operators in the region.”

Bell Helicopter has been ranked #1 in Customer Support and Services for 18 consecutive years and offers an unparalleled customer experience with complete and seamless support. Bell Helicopter provides customers with local support in every corner of the world with services ranging from state of the art customization, aircraft refurbishment and accessory options to first class maintenance, repair and overhaul solutions, combined with personalized service offerings.

Editor note – see also Aviation Service website at http://www.aviationservice.com/