Bell evaluating HAL facilities for co-production of 407 choppers

Bangalore, Feb 9 (UNI) Bell Helicopters, a Textron Inc company, is assessing the facilities at public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for co-production of sub-assemblies for Bell 407 light single-engine commercial helicopter.

Incidentally, the Texas-based company was a frontline contender to supply helicopters for the Indian Army, for which a tender had been floated. It had pitched its 407s for the purpose and was awaiting the Government's move to finalise the bids. Bell was competing with Eurocopter's 350b3 to replace the Army's ageing Cheetah fleet. It had earlier offered its 407 helicopters and technology transfer to HAL for further joint production.

''Two teams from our company are here evaluating co-production of the cabin sub-assemblies with HAL. Bell 407 has already performed very well in the Indian Army's cold and hot weather trials. It can exceed the Army's requirements,'' Mr Robert Fitzpatrick, Senior Vice-President of Bell Helicopters, said today.

Speaking to media persons at Aero India-2007 here, he said his company had signed an MoU with HAL to identify potential projects ranging from manufacturing and assembly to production planning, engineering and product support.

Bell was also exploring industrial partnerships with other Indian firms to strengthen US' partnership with India to develop training facilities, he said.

Bell Helicopter today presented an award, recognising the safety record of United Helicharters for logging over 40,000 hours of flight flying Bell Helicopters in India and achieving 'Zero' accident rate. United Helicharters is a joint venture company of Qatar Petroleum, UB Air and Great Offshore Ltd.

UNI