Bell Evaluating Opportunity to Co-Produce with HAL

, Bell Helicopter Textron said its two teams were evaluating an opportunity to co-produce cabin sub-assemblies with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for its light-single engine commercial helicopter model 407. 
 
Demand from both commercial and military markets for model 407 aircraft was growing “tremendously', Robert Fitzpatrick, Senior Vice-President, Marketing and Sales, Bell helicopter, told reporters at the “Aero India 2007” air show in Bangalore. 
 
Bell Helicopter and HAL had signed an MoU to identify potential and mutually beneficial projects for collaboration, which could range from manufacturing and assembly to production planning, engineering and product support, he said. 
 
Fitzpatrick said Bell was also exploring opportunities with other Indian firms to expand industrial partnerships. 
 
He said Bell was committed to working with an Indian partner to develop rotary wing pilot training and final selection and announcement of the Bell Helicopter certified training facility would be made in the second half of this year. 
 
Bell 407 is in competition with the Eurocopter's 350B3 to replace the Indian Army's ageing fleet of Cheetah, he said. 
 
He said the Bell proposal, submitted in 2005, calls for initial delivery of 60 407 aircraft delivered in the Indian Army's desired configuration and offers technology transfer of 100 per cent of bell design to HAL, besides co-production of 137 aircraft by HAL after technology transfer. 
 
He said Bell 407 performed “extremely well” in the Indian Army's cold and hot weather trials. “It either met or exceeded the Indian Army's requirements.”