Bell Helicopter Textron confirmed at the show yesterday that it is to buy a "substantial portion" of Boeing's commercial helicopter business.
The deal, agreed by the two companies in the USA on Wednesday, will see Bell acquire the MD-500 and MD-600 series of turbine singles, but excludes the MD-900 line.
Announcing the decision, which has been widely predicted, Bell president Terry Stinson refused to disclose how much money will change hands, describing the agreement only as a "straight cash" deal.
The move means that the US commercial helicopter battlefield has been reduced to just two major players, with Bell and Sikorsky going head to head.
Bell looks likely to transfer production of the 500E, the 520N, the 530 and the 600N to its manufacturing centre at Mirabel, Canada although it is still evaluating the options.
The reputation for quietness of the former McDonnell Douglas range of helicopters through its NOTAR technology was a crucial factor in Bell's decision to push ahead with the purchase, Stinson confirms.
"Noise is becoming more of an issue in many markets and although there are trade-offs in terms of power, there is a definite niche that we need to fill," he says.
The fact that the 900 series was not part of the sale will come as a surprise to some within the industry, but Stinson says that the line "...doesn't fit well with the products we have".
He adds that the price of the aircraft when compared with the Bell 427 and 430 makes it impossible for Bell to justify buying the aircraft. Bell will, however, provide spare parts and support for the MD-902 Explorer.
Source: Flight Daily News
