ASESA Purchases Ten New Bell 412EPs

March 14, 2004

HAI 2004 - Las Vegas, NV - March 14, 2004 - Bell and Aeroservicios Especializados S.A. de C.V. ("ASESA") officials announced today that they had reached an agreement on the sale of ten new Bell 412EP Helicopters. The first few of the 412s have already been delivered to ASESA and have already started operations. Deliveries will continue through August of 2004. Commenting on the sale, Bell Helicopter Chief Executive Officer Mike Redenbaugh said, "This is great fleet sale to a great customer. I am extremely pleased to make this announcement. It reflects both the upturn in the world market economy and a strong manufacturer/customer relationship."

Bell 412EP

Speaking for ASESA Mr. Humberto Lobo De La Garza, Chief Executive Officer said, "These aircraft were vital to our winning an important contract award from PEMEX Exploration y Produccio ("PEMEX"). The well known reliability and best life cycle cost of operation provided us the ability to submit the strongest bid to provide helicopter services to PEMEX." He also added "This purchase represents the most important acquisition of helicopters made by a private Mexican company. It turns ASESA in the largest offshore operator in Mexico."

These aircraft will be used to service three new five-year contracts awarded by "PEMEX", Mexico's national oil company, each contract requiring five helicopters. The missions will be carried out in the Bay of Campeche region in southeastern Mexico. The Bay of Campeche is the principal operating base for PEMEX's oil exploration activities. The services to be provided to PEMEX are transportation of personnel and cargo from Ciudad del Carmen to offshore oil platforms. ASESA competed with other major service operators for the contracts.

ASESA was established in 1977. It is part of the PROTEXA group of companies, a large, well-established group in Mexico, founded in 1945. The company operates several companies in the industrial, construction, air transportation, environmental, tourism and real estate sectors. Notable accomplishments include the construction of the majority of the offshore drilling platforms in the Bay of Campeche area, construction of a mass transit infrastructure in Monterrey and construction of a major dam in the state of Nuevo Leon. For more information see www.protexa.com.mx.

Bell Helicopter Textron, a subsidiary of Textron Inc., is a $1.6 billion, leading producer of commercial and military helicopters, and the pioneer of the revolutionary tiltrotor aircraft. Globally recognized for customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell's global workforce of over 7,500 employees serves customers flying Bell aircraft in over 120 countries.

Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) is a $10 billion multi-industry company with more than 43,000 employees in 40 countries. 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, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO and Greenlee, among others. More information is available at www.textron.com.

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