On the Record with
TERRY STINSON, CHAIRMAN AND CEO, BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON

The next few years will be even rosier if Bell Helicopter chairman and CEO Terry Stinson wins an order of up to 100 AH-1W Cobra gunships from Turkey -- the biggest single competition on the near-term horizon.

As it is, Stinson predicts a flat to improving market worldwide for commercial helicopters, with the only "quiet" area being Asia-Pacific. "That's the only region where we're not yet seeing traditional strength," Stinson said. "It's unfortunate because it's such a large market, and it needs our products more than most. I think it will be another couple of years until it recovers fully."
He would also like to see it recover because as a region it typically buys the bigger, heavier and more expensive helicopters Bell produces. "I would rather sell 10 bell 412s there than 10 407s," he quipped.

Bell delivered 276 helicopters last year, of which 71 were for the U.S. military. Most of the remaining 205 were commercial ships, although the tally included some foreign military sales such as AH-1W gunships for Taiwan, and some Huey IIs and TH-67 trainers.

But most notable was a rip-roaring December in which Bell took orders for 42 helicopters -- the company's best month in five years.

"The orders were from North and South America, Europe and the Pacific Rim. You can't jump to conclusions with just one data point, but that certainly is a nice way to begin 2000." The end-of-year order tally included a single order from Mexico for 24 Bell 206L-4 LongRangers for anti-drug duties.

Bell's new models,the 407 light single and the twin-engined 427, are selling extremely well. The company recently delivered the 400th 407 in just three years, despite several months of uncertainty as it worked to fix a tail rotor problem. "We've delivered more to market than any other new model in history," said Stinson, who noted that the FAA has now lifted all restrictions on the helicopter.

The 427, delayed a year as its tail rotor is similar to that on the 407, is poised to receive FAA certification any day. Orders stand at 80, production is sold out for three years, performance is above specifications, and not one customer was lost in the year-long holdup, Stinson noted. The 427 is made in partnership with Samsung Aerospace of South Korea, which already has launch customers in China for the light twin.

Orders for the intermediate twin Bell 430 "are picking up faster than even we anticipated," Stinson said, with certification for Cat. A single pilot IFR in December removing the final impediment to sales. Bell delivered 19 last year, and will exceed that in 2000.

Prospects for the new 15-passenger medium twin Agusta/Bell AB 139 are picking up as Bell continues to develop both the 139 and BA 609 with its Italian partner. First flight will be late this year, and first deliveries in 2002.

Stinson is most enthusiastic about Bell's fortunes as production of some 350 of Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor ramps up dramatically in the new tiltrotor production facility in Amarillo, Texas. "Over the next four years our revenues will grow dramatically, so I'm probably more bullish on this industry than most," he said.

By John Morris