Fort Worth, TX – March 27, 2006 – Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. Company (NYSE: TXT), celebrated the official opening of its new 82,000-square-foot Repair & Overhaul Center Wednesday along with nearly 100 military dignitaries, customers, Bell Employees and local civic leaders. "It's really exciting to be the leader of Bell Helicopter at this time," Chief Executive Officer Mike Redenbaugh said. "This is another example of Bell Helicopter's commitment to becoming the premier supplier of vertical-lift aircraft."
The new facility is responsible for the repair and overhaul of transmissions, rotating controls, rotor hubs, gearboxes, rotor blades and more on all of Bell's U.S. military platforms.
Guest of honor at the ribbon-cutting ceremony was Rear Adm. Michael Roesner, Commanding Officer, United States Naval Inventory Control Point.
"Your ability to keep the aircraft you make so well and the support you've always given us – and the support this facility will continue to give us – is the reason we can do what we do," Roesner said.
The Repair and Overhaul Center, which is housed next to the Bell Helicopter's Logistics Center in Roanoke, Texas, has been in operation since January and reached full operational capacity this week. The facility allows Bell to provide industry leading customer support while also establishing the infrastructure for Bell Helicopter to deliver performance based logistics.
"It seems like this thing got done awfully quickly – or maybe we just do things awfully slowly in Washington," said Congressman Michael Burgess, R-Flower Mound.
Helicopters like the AH-1W Cobra will remain in the air supporting U.S. troops because of facilities such as the Repair & Overhaul Center, Burgess said. He expressed pride in the company and its employees.
"It's critical Bell back the military, not only with new aircraft, but also in supporting existing vehicles over decades," Redenbaugh said. "The company's role is humbling, and everyone involved needs to remain focused to meet the role. Bell Helicopter is dedicated to that very mission."
A sign inside the building dedicates the center to American troops.
Bell Helicopter is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military, manned and unmanned vertical lift aircraft and the pioneer of the revolutionary tilt rotor aircraft. Globally recognized for world-class customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell's global workforce serves customers flying Bell aircraft in more than 120 countries.
Textron Inc. is a $10 billion multi-industry company operating in 33 countries with approximately 37,000 employees in continuing operations. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, 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 Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO and Greenlee, among others. More information is available at www.textron.com.
