Press Release

Issued by Bell, a Textron Company.

February 2, 2010

Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, has revised the maintenance manual for its new 429 to reduce costs for operators while retaining the 429's state-of-the-art reliability and safety.

The 429 is certified to the latest version of Part 27 airworthiness standards. Its maintenance program is the only one in the helicopter industry that is based on Maintenance Steering Group 3 (MSG-3) practices that are the foundation of the world airlines' unprecedented reliability. The 429 is the first rotorcraft to have its maintenance program approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency to these high standards.

Building on that program, Bell continues to make progress in a post-certification test program that will enable component lives to be extended or life limitations to be lifted all together. This testing is in conjunction with an ongoing campaign to review and, where safe and reliable, reduce inspection requirements for components on the 429. That test program led to a December 2009 revision of the 429's approved maintenance manual, a change that reduces the direct maintenance cost significantly for 429 operators.

Bell plans to continue its test program, overseen by airworthiness authorities, to support additional revisions to the maintenance manual and reductions in the 429's maintenance costs.

"Bell will revise the maintenance manual as we progress with component testing and help lower our customers' costs as they make greater and greater use of this state-of-the-art helicopter," said Bell 429 Program Manager Neil Marshall. "The 429 today offers performance capabilities and design features unmatched in the light, twin-engine helicopter class. Ongoing improvements to the maintenance program will make it an even more valuable helicopter for operators."

The light, twin-engine 429 is the world's newest helicopter. Certified in mid-2009 by Canadian, U.S. and European authorities, it is to enter service in February with its first customer, Air Methods Corporation, which will operate it for U.S. emergency medical service operator Mercy One in Des Moines, Iowa.