Bell Helicopter Expands Customer Service Capabilities in China

Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announces it has appointed Shanghai Kingwing General Aviation Co., Ltd., (Kingwing GA) as a Bell Helicopter authorized Customer Service Facility (CSF). Kingwing GA currently provides charter, training, leasing overhaul and operational management from five bases in Eastern China. As a Bell Helicopter authorized CSF, Kingwing is approved to perform field maintenance on Bell 429 aircraft.

Speaking at the signing ceremony at Airshow China 2012, Eric Cardinali, executive vice president, Customer Support and Services said, “We are pleased to work with Kingwing General Aviation to provide our growing Chinese customer base with the same level of support and service enjoyed by our customers worldwide.”

“We are honored that Kingwing was approved as a Bell Helicopter Customer Service Facility and will continue to promote the cooperation between our two companies. It is our hope that, long-term, we can provide maintenance services for all Bell helicopters operating in China,” said Zou JianGou, chairman, Kingwing.

“Our international Customer Service Facilities play a strategic role in ensuring Bell Helicopter operators have access to our support and service network regardless of where they are based,” said Cardinali. “This is part of Bell Helicopter’s ongoing commitment to our customers — local, Bell-approved resources with factory-trained technicians, access to parts inventory and high standards of quality.”

All Bell Helicopter authorized CSFs must meet rigorous requirements outlined by Bell Helicopter, use Bell Helicopter trained mechanics, maintain tooling and inventory requirements necessary to meet customers’ needs and be approved by their local regulatory authority.