PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Bell
Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, and Milestone
Aviation Group, a GE Capital Aviation Services company announced today
plans to move forward with a letter of intent (LOI) to acquire 20 Bell
525 Relentless helicopters. These aircraft will serve a variety of
roles with Milestone’s lessees around the world, including oil and gas,
emergency medical service, search and rescue, and utility opportunities.
Delivery of aircraft to Milestone is expected to begin in late 2017.
“We are very pleased to announce our first order with Bell Helicopter,”
said Milestone’s Chairman, Richard Santulli. “With the 525, our
customers will benefit from the newest fly-by-wire technology and its
mission versatility.”
“Milestone is committed to building long-term relationships with
industry leaders that deliver value for our customers,” said Daniel
Rosenthal, Milestone’s President. “By securing future delivery positions
for the Bell 525, we are continuing to demonstrate our strong commitment
to that goal.”
“We are thrilled to expand our relationship with Milestone by signing
this agreement. Milestone Aviation, owns one of the world’s largest
commercial helicopter fleets and we are delighted they have placed their
trust in this aircraft,” said President and CEO of Bell Helicopter, John
Garrison. “As the first helicopter to define the super-medium class, the
Bell 525 provides Milestone with an aircraft able to perform a diverse
set of missions in the most demanding conditions.”
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 in the coming weeks.
About Milestone Aviation Group
Milestone Aviation Group, a GE Capital Aviation Services Company, is the
world’s leading commercial helicopter leasing company. Milestone has a
fleet of 187 helicopters worth US $3.2 billion and supports 33 operators
in 26 countries on six continents. The company has a forward order book
of 117 firm and option aircraft with an estimated aggregate purchase
price of US $2.4 billion. These near-term delivery positions of
in-demand helicopters are made available for lease globally. Milestone
partners with helicopter operators worldwide and supports them through
lease financing. The company provides financing for helicopters serving
a variety of industries, including offshore oil and gas, search and
rescue, emergency medical services, police surveillance, mining and
other utility missions. www.milestoneaviation.com
About GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS)
GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) is a world leader in aviation
leasing and financing. With over 45 years of experience, GECAS offers a
wide range of aircraft types including narrowbodies, widebodies,
regional jets/props, freighters and helicopters, plus multiple financing
products and services including operating leases, purchase/leasebacks,
secured debt financing, capital markets, engine leasing, airframe parts
management and airport/airline consulting. GECAS owns or services a
fleet of over 2,200 aircraft (1,900 fixed wing/300 rotary wing) in
operation or on order, plus provides loans collateralized on an
additional 400 aircraft. GECAS serves over 270 customers in over 75
countries from a network of 24 offices. www.gecas.com
GE (NYSE: GE) imagines things others don’t, builds things others can’t
and delivers outcomes that make the world work better. GE brings
together the physical and digital worlds in ways no other company can.
In its labs and factories and on the ground with customers, GE is
inventing the next industrial era to move, power, build and cure the
world. www.ge.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, including, but not limited to the
efficacy of research and development investments to develop new products
or unanticipated expenses in connection with the launching of
significant new products or programs; the timing of our new product
launches or certifications of our new aircraft products; 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; performance issues with key suppliers or subcontractors;
difficult conditions in the financial markets which may adversely impact
our customers’ ability to fund or finance purchases of our products;
continued demand softness or volatility in the markets in which we do
business; and changes in aircraft delivery schedules or cancellations or
deferrals of orders.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150615005824/en/
Source: Textron