Bell Helicopter officially opened a delivery center and two-bay paint facility at its location in Prague, Czech Republic today. This adds to the facility’s maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities, making it the company’s regional customization, delivery and aftermarket service center in Europe. The paint booth has been designed to accommodate all Bell civil helicopters, ranging from legacy products to those currently in development, among them the 525 Relentless super-medium twin. “By integrating the latest requirements for safety of operations, ease of maintenance, energy sustainability, environmental and ergonomics, we have been able to vastly improve the paint process,” the company said.
“Europe is a key market for us to continue to grow and develop our balanced business,” noted Bell Helicopter president and CEO Mitch Snyder. The company’s Prague facility is part of an expanding network of support and service facilities throughout Europe. Bell also has a supply center in Amsterdam, owns blade repair shop Rotor Blades in Warminster, England, and counts 16 customer service facilities in Europe and Russia.
The helicopter manufacturer announced last year that it will be partnering with sister company TRU Simulation for the first Bell Helicopter regional training center in Valencia, Spain. This facility is expected to open later this year.