Bell Certifies New Helicopter Flight Data Monitoring Device

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Fort Worth, TX (January 13, 2021) – Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, announced today the Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the Installation of QuantiFLY, a new aircraft communication unit (ACU) powered by Truth Data, offering a true low-cost, lightweight, and fully automatic flight data monitoring (FDM) solution currently available for the Bell 407GXi and Bell 429. Bell developed QuantiFLY with Appareo and FDM analytics to enable operators to affordably use the data from QuantiFLY to be actionable and drive safety.

“As innovators, Bell is continuously exploring advanced solutions to provide customers with smart helicopter technology to enhance their flight experience,” said Michael Thacker, executive vice president, Innovation and Commercial Business. “The introduction of Bell’s QuantiFLY will offer greater visibility into flight operations while integrating seamlessly with Bell’s current connected fleet offerings for our commercial aircraft.”

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Bell selected Appareo Systems for connectivity hardware based on its proven track record for both world-wide cellular telematics and aircraft data monitoring. The device utilizes cellular (4G LTE / 3G GSM) on the ground data transmission to offboard aircraft fight parameter and maintenance data via cloud for processing and analytics. Bell worked with Microsoft to build on its  Azure cloud infrastructure to route data securely around the world The data is then uploaded to Bell’s MissionLinkTM, an innovative off-board data platform that delivers intuitive analysis to customers.

Bell collaborated with Truth Data, a proven leader in rotorcraft flight data monitoring, to provide a scalable flight data analysis platform and benchmarking capabilities to better identify safety issues and reduce operator risks. Coupled with QuantiFLY, this provides a completely automatic FDM service. Network regulatory and certifications include Verizon Network, Vodafone, CE, IC, FCC, RCM.

QuantiFLY is offered as an aftermarket kit forward or retrofittable for legacy and new aircraft, analog and digital through Aeronautical Accessories. QuantiFLY Equipment Features:

•           Dual-core ARM cortex A9 processors

•           512 MB DDR3L RAM

•           32 GB eMMC standard storage

•           LTE CAT 4 cellular radio with 3G/2G fallback

•           Bidirectional communication

•           100BASE-TX 10/100 ethernet

•           Discrete I/O

•           RS-422

•           ARINC 429 RX (up to 10 Hz)

•           Inertial measurement unit & GPS

•           Secure boot

•           Low power mode

•           Ultra-Low power sleep mode

•           Weights less than two pounds

Blakeley Thress

Commercial Business, The Americas
All Media Contacts

About Bell

Thinking above and beyond is what we do. For more than 85 years, we’ve been reimagining the experience of flight – and where it can take us.

We are pioneers. We were the first to break the sound barrier and to certify a commercial helicopter. We were a part of NASA’s first lunar mission and brought advanced tiltrotor systems to market. Today, we’re defining the future of advanced air mobility.

Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas – as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., – we have strategic locations around the globe. And with nearly one quarter of our workforce having served, helping our military achieve their missions is a passion of ours.

Above all, our breakthrough innovations deliver exceptional experiences to our customers. Efficiently. Reliably. And always, with safety at the forefront.

About Textron

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, and Textron Systems. For more information, visit: www.textron.com.

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, changes in aircraft delivery schedules or cancellations or deferrals of orders; our ability to keep pace with our competitors in the introduction of new products and upgrades with features and technologies desired by our customers; changes in government regulations or policies on the export and import of our products; volatility in the global economy or changes in worldwide political conditions that adversely impact demand for our products; volatility in interest rates or foreign exchange rates; and risks related to our international business, including establishing and maintaining facilities in locations around the world and relying on joint venture partners, subcontractors, suppliers, representatives, consultants and other business partners in connection with international business, including in emerging market countries.

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