Bell Helicopter and Turbomeca Offer Comprehensive Aircraft Coverage on Bell 505

HAI – Louisville, Kentucky (March 1, 2016) – Bell Helicopter a Textron Inc. company, (NYSE: TXT), announced today a collaboration with Turbomeca (Safran, Euronext Paris : SAF)  to provide a complete service option for the Bell 505 protecting the entire aircraft - including engine coverage.

Customers who select Bell Helicopter’s Customer Advantage Plan (CAP), and Turbomeca’s Support By the Hour plan, with their aircraft will receive comprehensive aircraft and engine protection with no minimum annual flight hour requirement – all for around $300 per flight hour. Both plans together provide aircraft and engine direct maintenance cost (DMC) protection against unscheduled maintenance at an affordable rate for customers who plan to fly low flight hours.

This collaboration provides Bell 505 customers with DMC protection, increased aircraft availability and residual value protection. When selecting both plans, customers increase their aircraft availability with premier access to Bell Helicopter’s dynamic components and Turbomeca’s standard engine exchange at no additional charge. 

“We are thrilled  to work with Turbomeca to offer broader coverage for our Bell 505 customers through their Service By the Hour program alongside our Customer Advantage Plans,” said Glenn Isbell, Bell Helicopter’s executive vice president, Customer Support and Services. “Our joint solution for the Bell 505 provides our customers an innovative maintenance cost protection solution not found anywhere else in the class.”

Franck Saudo, Turbomeca Executive Vice-President Support and Services, commented: “This collaboration with Bell Helicopter is a great opportunity to offer to customers a Bell 505-tailored Support By The Hour contract, from the aircraft acquisition. Delivering a best-in-class solution to Bell Helicopter and our customers is a top priority for us. We are delighted with the progress of this blossoming collaboration.”