Bell Helicopter and Waypoint Leasing Ink Largest Agreement for “Relentless” Aircraft

March 03, 2015

 

Waypoint Signs Letter of Intent to Purchase 20 Bell 525’s Plus Options for Additional Aircraft

 

Orlando, FL (March 3, 2014)Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today Waypoint Leasing (Ireland) Limited (“Waypoint”) has signed a letter of intent (LOI) to acquire 20 Bell 525 Relentless helicopters with options for additional aircraft. Waypoint plans to provide the Bell 525 Relentless to operators servicing a wide range of missions, including oil and gas, emergency medical service, search and rescue, firefighting and governmental support. Waypoint’s existing fleet of more than 90 aircraft includes Bell 407s and Bell 412s, Bell Helicopter’s medium-lift utility helicopters.

Waypoint’s Chief Executive Officer Ed Washecka and Bell Helicopter’s President and CEO, John Garrison, participated in a formal ceremony at Heli-Expo (HAI) in Orlando, Florida to commemorate the agreement.

“We are pleased to sign this agreement with Bell Helicopter, which will provide us with cutting-edge and versatile aircraft that we believe offer an attractive value proposition for operators worldwide,” said Washecka. “The Bell 525 incorporates a number of technological advancements that enhance safety, improve performance and reduce costs. We are excited to build on our existing relationship with Bell and look forward to bringing the Bell 525 Relentless to the market.”

“The Bell 525 is a customer-driven design that will enable operators to perform a diverse mission set with the payload and range they need, and to do so more cost effectively than aircraft available on the market today,” said President and CEO of Bell Helicopter, John Garrison. “Demand for this aircraft is intensifying all over the world, and we are thrilled a global company like Waypoint has placed their trust in this highly capable aircraft.”

The Bell 525 is the world’s first fly-by-wire commercial helicopter, designed to operate safely and reliably in austere environments with decreased pilot workload. The aircraft integrates critical systems data to be easily accessible at-a-glance with the first fully-integrated touch screen flight deck designed for helicopters, the Garmin G5000H®. Best-in-class payload, cabin, cargo volumes, comfort and egress complement the technological advancements on the aircraft. The Bell 525 is being tested in Bell Helicopter’s fully integrated System Integration Lab (SIL), allowing for virtual flight testing of the Bell 525 before first flight, which is scheduled for spring 2015.

“This landmark agreement is one of the largest commercial helicopter orders in Bell Helicopter’s 80 year history, and demonstrates that the marketplace recognizes the capabilities and unmatched value of the Bell 525 Relentless,” added Garrison.

Press Contact

ASHLEIGH DANA
Bell Helicopter
+1 817-280-3100
mediarelations@bh.com
Online Media Kit
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Waypoint Leasing:
ANDREW COLE/JARED LEVY
Sard Verbinnen and Co
212-687-8080
Waypoint-svc@sardverb.com

About Waypoint Leasing (Ireland) Limited

Waypoint Leasing is a global helicopter leasing company that provides operating lease and financing solutions to helicopter operators worldwide. Headquartered in Limerick, Ireland, and with operations in Darien, CT, Waypoint Leasing differentiates itself with a senior management team that has direct helicopter operating and leasing experience in key helicopter markets around the world, having leased helicopters across Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and North and South America. Waypoint Leasing serves a wide range of sectors including oil and gas, emergency medical service, search and rescue, firefighting and governmental support.

Further information is available atwww.waypointleasing.com.

About Bell Helicopter

Bell Helicopter, a wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military, manned and unmanned vertical-lift aircraft and the pioneer of the revolutionary tiltrotor 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.

About Textron Inc.

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 Helicopter, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, 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.

Connect with Textron IR

David Rosenberg, Vice President, Investor Relations
(401) 457-2288
Kyle Williams, Manager, Investor Relations
(401) 457-2288

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