Bell Helicopter opens office in India

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NEW DELHI, April 23 (UPI) -- Bell Helicopter of the United States has expanded its presence in India, opening a new office in New Delhi for its operations in the country.

"Bell Helicopter is investing in India," said John L. Garrison, president and chief executive officer of 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 Helicopter, which has more than 100 of its aircraft operating in India, opened a liaison office in the country in 1995. It has customer service facilities in the region: Deccan Aviation in Bangalore and Air Works in Mumbai.

The company said 80 engineers are working for the company in India and that number is expected to double by the end of this year.

"We have a strong history of supporting our customers in India," Garrison said. "And, we are committed to supporting them and their missions.

"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."

Bell Helicopter is a wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc.