Sale and Delivery are the first conducted through Bell Helicopter’s new Japan office

Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, (NYSE: TXT), announced the delivery of a Bell 412EP to Nishi Nippon Airlines Co., Ltd. The sale and delivery are the first conducted through Bell Helicopter’s new office in Tokyo. A delivery ceremony was held at the customer’s facility near the Fukuoka airport yesterday.

“We honor our long-standing relationship with Nishi Nippon Airlines, and I am thrilled to deliver the most rugged and reliable medium helicopter on the market to our valued customer,” said John Garrison, president and CEO of Bell Helicopter. “This year Bell Helicopter celebrates 80 years of changing the way the world flies. Our aim is to put our customers, like Nishi Nippon, at the center of all we do, so Bell Helicopter can be a leader for the next 80 years.”

“We have been using Bell helicopters for a long time and recognize Bell aircraft’s superiority,” said Nobuo Tanoue, President, Nishi Nippon Airlines. “The Bell 412EP has been our workhorse and we have appreciated its superior cargo sling capability for our goods and material transport missions. We are confident that Bell will provide the industry’s best aftermarket support for years to come.”

Established in 1953, Nishi Nippon Airlines Co., Ltd. is a general transportation organization providing air cargo and nonscheduled air transportation services. Nishi Nippon Airlines Co., Ltd. began operating Bell helicopters in 1956, with a Bell 47G model. Their new Bell 412EP will perform electric power utility missions and will be added to the company’s existing Bell Helicopter fleet of five aircraft, which includes another Bell 412EP, a Bell 429 and three Bell 427 aircraft. The delivery represents the 33rd aircraft received from Bell helicopter.

The Bell 412EP is the cornerstone of mission critical helicopter operations throughout the world, able to reliably perform in some of the most extreme climates on the planet. The Bell 412EP offers dual digital automatic flight control system with available IFR option and excellent Category A/JAR OPS 3 capability. With a cruise speed of 122 knots (226 kph), range of 358 nautical miles (663 km) and an expansive cabin able to comfortably accommodate 13 passengers and two crew members, the Bell 412EP easily fits multiple mission criteria.

Bell Helicopter Co., Ltd. was established in Japan in January 2014 for the primary purpose of building upon long-term customer and partner relationships to the benefit of Japan’s rotorcraft market. Bell Helicopter’s new office in Tokyo now performs the sales and marketing efforts for new aircraft in the commercial and civil government sectors in Japan. Beginning in April, it will also be responsible for sustaining Bell Helicopter’s aftermarket service efforts including supporting its authorized Customer Service Facilities, Fuji Heavy Industries, Naka Nihon and Aero Asahi.

Bell Helicopters press release