Fort Worth, Texas, Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today that Aviation Service a.s., its maintenance service facility in Prague, Czech Republic,  has received a Part 145 maintenance organization approval certificate from the Ukraine State Aviation Administration. 

Bell Helicopter already have been granted the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Part 145 approval. In February 2010, Bell Helicopter announced the acquisition of Aviation Service a.s., a service provider of modifications, upgrades, avionics, and special mission packages based in Prague, Czech Republic. Bell Helicopter currently has 19 customer support facilities in Europe and Russia.

Eric Cardinali, Bell Helicopter’s executive vice president of Customer Support and Services said “We are excited to have the support and approval of the Ukraine SAA.

“The addition of a Ukrainian service offering enhances our ability to take care of our customers in Eastern Europe. Our mission is to make service expedient and efficient for them so their aircraft is ready to go when duty calls.”

Gordon Harveson, General Manager Bell Services Group Europe, added “Customers in Ukraine requested support and our response was to gain Part 145 approval by the Ukraine SAA within three months.

“This continues our expansion of support services to our European, Russian and Ukrainian customers and further reflects our commitment to Bell helicopter operators in the region.”