Bell's Search for Tiltrotor Teammate Ends with Agusta Sign-Up
for 609 and AB139

Agusta and Bell Helicopter Textron have agreed to establish a joint venture that will manage the 609 tiltrotor and an all-new, 15-seat multi-purpose helicopter-the AB139.

Disclosed last month at Farnborough by Bell chairman and CEO Terry Stinson and Agusta president and CEO Amedeo Caporaletti, the joint venture significantly advances the global consolidation of the helicopter industry and provides more support for the tiltrotor program in the wake of Boeing's decision to leave the commercial helicopter business.

The joint venture will provide worldwide marketing and support for both the tiltrotor-now known as the Bell-Agusta BA609-and the Agusta-Bell AB139. Both companies will take part in the manufacture of both aircraft. Bell will establish a second assembly line for the AB139 in North America, most likely at Mirabel in Canada, and Agusta will assemble BA609s in Italy for the European market and selected other regions.

According to Caporaletti, the new JV is not expected to disturb merger discussions between Agusta and GKN Westland. "It has affected the merger positively," Caporaletti said here. "It enlarges our business and we enjoy the support of Westland for our decision." He said he expects negotiations between GKN Westland and Agusta to continue through the end of the year, and reach a conclusion by June 1999.

The AB139 has been under study for two years, Caporaletti said. First deliveries will take place in 2002. The new aircraft is aimed at utility, offshore support, and military markets. It is a conventional helicopter with a five-blade main rotor and four-blade tail rotor, and will be powered-coincidentally, the company leaders maintain-by the P&W PT6C-67C engine, the same engine to be used on the BA609.

Maximum cruising speed will be 160 kt. The AB139 will have a large, unobstructed cabin, capable of accommodating six litters in a medevac role, and retractable landing gear. Agusta has selected Honeywell Primus Epic avionics, including a four-axis automatic flight control system.

The AB139 is larger, more powerful and more expensive than the Bell 412, which Agusta markets and assembles for some regions, and will not directly replace the older helicopter.

The two companies will continue to compete in other market sectors, but Stinson and Caporaletti said that they would look at expanding their cooperation in the future.

By Bill Sweetman