London, United Kingdom (July 21, 2026) - Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced a new milestone of 240,000 flight hours for the Bell Training Academy (BTA), reflecting Bell’s ongoing dedication to safety, capability and innovative learning. The academy continues to strengthen its position as a leading provider of pilot and maintenance training, supporting growing demand from commercial and parapublic operators across Europe.
In 2025, BTA provided training to more than 2,000 pilots, contributing to Bell’s overall 140,000 pilots trained worldwide and now over 240,000 total flight hours accumulated throughout the academy’s history. Bell’s former military pilot instructors also logged 2,600 flight hours in BTA-owned aircraft last year, reinforcing the academy’s in-demand hands-on training.
“The Bell Training Academy is industry leading helicopter training grounded in OEM-approved data, combining deep technical expertise with real world operational insight,” said Chad Sparks, general manager, BTA. “We aim to establish confidence and capability so operators can safely utilize their aircrafts for diverse missions.”
Global Training Network
Bell continues to improve its global training footprint with locations designed to keep customers mission-ready, no matter where they operate. Through training facilities in the United States, Europe and Asia, Bell offers flexible, accessible programs through its global training network, providing well-rounded training experiences supported by skilled instructors and modern training technology.
The BTA Valencia, Bell’s premier training facility in Europe, continues to expand Bell’s European infrastructure with facilities supporting pilot and maintenance training. The center provides convenient access to OEM-standard instruction for operators across Europe. The BTA Valencia team offers a variety of commercial and parapublic training, utilizing advanced simulation technology with instruction from expert pilots to keep customers ready to fly.
Decades of Training Excellence
Established with a foundation of operational expertise and customer-focused curriculum, the BTA has delivered instruction to pilots and technicians for decades. Programs include a combination of classroom instruction, advanced 3-D courseware, simulators, full touchdown autorotations, and hands-on training that reflects real-world missions and evolving operator needs.
“Regarding the instructors in Valencia, I can say that their quality and professionalism are at a very high level,” said Viliam Krivak, Air Transport Europe, pilot. “I can also express my admiration for the excellence and technical sophistication of the simulator itself, which significantly helps us improve the quality of our training and enhances operational safety.”
To learn more about Bell’s technical training, visit the Bell Training Academy website and follow along with Bell at Farnborough 2026.
ABOUT BELL
Thinking above and beyond is what we do. For more than 90 years, we’ve been reimagining the experience of flight – and where it can take us.
We are pioneers. We were the first to break the sound barrier and to certify a commercial helicopter. We were a part of NASA’s first lunar mission and brought advanced tiltrotor systems to market. Today, we’re defining the future of advanced air mobility.
Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas – as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., – we have strategic locations around the globe. And with nearly one quarter of our workforce having served, helping our military achieve their missions is a passion of ours.
Above all, our breakthrough innovations deliver exceptional experiences to our customers. Efficiently. Reliably. And always, with safety at the forefront.
ABOUT TEXTRON INC.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, and Textron Systems. For more information, visit: www.textron.com.
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