Helicopter flight school, run by Bell Helicopter nabs EASA practical approval

Posted by John McHale
FORT WORTH, Texas, 14 March 2011. Officials at the EASA -- European Aviation Safety Agency -- provided practical approval to a helicopter training school run by Bell Helicopter. As an EASA Part 147 approved maintenance training organization, the Bell Helicopter Training Academy is now approved to provide B1.3 Maintenance Training Courses on all variants of the 206 product line (A, B, and L) as well as B1.3 and B2 Electrical Maintenance Courses on the and 412 helicopter models.
Training academy graduates can now drastically reduce the amount of on-the-job proficiency demonstration they need to become type-certified as a mechanic under European regulations.
"Rounding out our EASA training approvals, when combined with our many Transport Canada approvals, further establishes the Bell Helicopter Training Academy as the premier helicopter maintenance training school in the world," says Trey Wade, director Bell Helicopter Training Academy. "We are honored to become the first school to be granted practical training approval from EASA. This achievement provides even more differentiation from our competitors."
These additional capabilities supplement existing EASA approvals for the 427 and 429 aircraft, making it possible for the Bell Helicopter Training Academy to conduct EASA approved maintenance training on every Bell helicopter currently produced.
Recent improvements in Bell Helicopter's maintenance training programs include the installation of electronic classrooms, upgrades to composite maintenance trainers, and non-destructive inspection training for maintenance technicians.
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 [email protected].
For information concerning European Aviation Safety Agency and Transport Canada maintenance training course approvals, please contact Connie Springer at [email protected].