Bell Helicopter Offers 206 Series TT Strap With Calendar Life Extension

Fort Worth, Texas - Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, announces its approval of a new tension torsion (TT) strap for the Bell 206 series of helicopters. The new TT strap utilizes an innovative material which is highly resistant to corrosion.

Bell Helicopter, in collaboration with its long-term supplier partner LORD Corporation, developed the strap with a calendar life of 36 months with anticipated calendar life extension following a Lead the Fleet program. This is an improvement over the current 24 months calendar life.

The price of the new TT strap will remain the same as the current strap with anticipated delivery no later than the fourth quarter 2012. The special warranty credit for the mandatory calendar removal will be eliminated as a result.

“This is another example of Bell Helicopter customer support and services on a mission, listening to our customers and delivering a solution,” says Danny Maldonado Bell Helicopter's senior vice president and chief services officer. “This calendar life extension will reduce the inconvenience and down time associated with a TT strap change and further reduce our operators' direct maintenance costs.”

“As a valued partner with Bell for more than 60 years, LORD is proud to help introduce unique and innovative solutions that increase end-user value and helicopter reliability,” says Lane Miller, LORD Corporation's vice president of global technology.

For more information, visit www.bellhelicopter.com.