Bell Helicopter [TXT] yesterday said it has opened a new office in New Delhi for all of its operations in India.
“Bell Helicopter is investing in India,” said John Garrison, president and CEO, Bell Helicopter. “We believe there are tremendous growth opportunities in terms of sales and manufacturing. This is an important day for Bell Helicopter as we celebrate our continued commitment and partnership with our customers in India.”
Bell has had a presence in India for nearly 20 years, opening a liaison office in 1995, the company said in a statement. There are currently more than 100 Bell aircraft operating throughout India.
“We have a strong history of supporting our customers in India,” Garrison said. “And, we are committed to supporting them and their missions. We are honored to be part of the important work they do each and every day.”
Currently, there are two Bell Helicopter Customer Service Facilities in the region. Deccan Aviation, located in Bangalore, and Air Works, located in Mumbai. Bell also has full-time customer service representation.
“As one of the world’s fastest growing economies and a large and diverse geographical area, India presents many opportunities for vertical lift. For example, helicopters are required for offshore oil field operations, power line washing and other important missions,” Garrison said. “More importantly, helicopters can save lives in India with the development of Helicopter Emergency Medical Services operations.”
As the demand grows for various missions in India, Bell Helicopter stands ready to assist our customers in India as a vested member of their community,” Garrison said. In 2004, Bell Helicopter’s parent company, Textron Inc, opened an engineering and technology center in Bangalore. Since then, the Bell Helicopter team has grown to 80 engineers and that number is expected to nearly double by the end of the year.