Bell Helicopter plans to build its next new commercial helicopter model in Amarillo instead of at its plant in Canada, breaking with its two-decade old practice.
Bell revealed the plans Monday in an e-mail that Chief Executive John Garrison sent to employees.The new helicopter program, code-named Magellan, seeks to produce a larger, longer-range aircraft aimed in large part at the offshore oil industry. Design and development are being conducted at Bell's facilities in Fort Worth, Arlington and Amarillo.In his message Garrison said final assembly, production test flights and delivery of the aircraft will be in Amarillo because of capacity considerations.Production of Bell's other commercial helicopters in Canada is expected to pick up in coming years as conditions improve, the message said, while production of the V-22 Osprey and other military aircraft in Amarillo will likely tail off as U.S. defense spending diminishes.Bell produces major components -- rotors, transmissions and other key parts -- of military and commercial aircraft at facilities in the greater Fort Worth area.But beginning in the early '90s the company moved commercial helicopter final assembly and other work to Mirabel, near Montreal. The decision was made in return for Canadian government helicopter orders and economic incentives, including research and development funding.Bell employs about 6,800 workers in Fort Worth, Arlington and Grand Prairie, 1,200 in Amarillo and about 2,000 in Canada.Bell officials declined to discuss the decision further. The company has kept details about Magellan under tight wraps since word of its launch leaked out a year ago.A formal announcement about Magellan and much more information is expected to be revealed in Dallas next month at the Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo trade show.Although production of the new aircraft is likely at least three years away, Magellan is aimed at the medium twin-engine commercial market niche that Bell's competitors have increasingly filled over the last decade with modern, more capable aircraft.Bell's existing medium twin, the model 412, is essentially a Vietnam-era version that has been upgraded many times over the years but lacks the load-carrying and range capacity of newer helicopters.Bob Cox, 817-390-7723Twitter: @bobcoxictHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
