After evaluating 1,200 locations across the USA, and shortlisting eight sites, all in its home state of Texas, Bell Helicopter Textron is to build its new tiltrotor assembly centre in Amarillo.
The plant will assemble both the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey military tiltrotor transport and the Bell 609 six/nine-seat civil tiltrotor.
The $40 million plant, at Amarillo International Airport, is scheduled for occupancy in 1999. Bell predicts tiltrotor production will peak at up to 100 military and civil aircraft a year, and employment numbers at Amarillo are forecast to reach 1,200 by 2004.
Bell also has announced plans to invest $300 million in new equipment and facilities at its existing plants in the Fort Worth area to support tiltrotor production. A "centre of excellence" in composites manufacturing technology will be established at Bell's main plant, and the precision gear machining centre in neighbouring Grand Prairie will be expanded. Bell will manufacture composite wings for the V-22 and 609 and produce transmissions for both tiltrotors at its Fort Worth area plants.
Low-rate initial production of the V-22 is under way already, and deliveries will begin in 1999 against a US Marine Corps requirement for 458 aircraft. Boeing is producing fuselages at Philadelphia, and will supply them to Bell for final assembly and flight test. First flight of the 609 is scheduled for 2000, with deliveries to begin following certification in 2002. Bell has orders for 67 civil tiltrotors.
The manufacturer is evaluating the establishment of a new helicopter and tiltrotor customer delivery centre in the Forth Worth area, but has set no date for a decision. The new site would also house Bell's customer flight and mechanic training operations.
Source: Flight International
