Posted by Courtney Howard

FORT WORTH, Texas, 1 March 2010. Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, has acquired Aviation Service, a provider of modifications and upgrades, avionics, and special mission packages, based in Prague, Czech Republic, with annual revenues of roughly $14 million.

"Bell is committed to meeting the needs of our European customers; this acquisition allows us to more rapidly provide support and service to this important region," says John L. Garrison, Bell president and CEO. "This facility provides us with the capabilities to meet the maintenance and modernization needs of Bell's current European fleet of aircraft, while providing a foundation to accommodate future growth with local completion and customizing capability for new aircraft deliveries."

Says Danny Maldonado, senior vice president of customer support and services and chief service officer: "Supporting the European fleet is a priority for Bell, acquiring Aviation Service is one of the first steps to increase Bell's rising presence in Europe."

As part of the new acquisition, Bell expects to be able to generate supplemental type certifications to meet customer requirements, building on Aviation Service's EASA Part 21 Design Organization and 145 Repair Station certifications.

Leading this new venture is Gordon Harveson, general manager Bell Europe and a long-time leader at Bell. Among his recent accomplishments, Harveson managed the Bell Customer Supply Center in Amsterdam. "Building on the existing experience of Aviation Service, the introduction of the 429 and the world class supply capabilities at our Amsterdam facility, this acquisition signals the commitment of Bell in the European market," says Harveson.

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