Bell Australia adds hydraulics capabilities to expanded aftermarket offerings

Bell Textron has expanded its component, repair, and overhaul (CRO) facility in Australia to include hydraulic component maintenance and repair. The company claims this is a major milestone as Bell’s first facility in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region to offer specialised hydraulic services. The Clontarf, Brisbane facility has grown from a 50m² workshop to an 800m² standalone site. As part of this expansion, Bell has invested in enhanced non-destructive testing (NDT) capabilities, including a new NDT room three times larger than the original, and has increased the number of qualified technicians to meet growing demand. The upgraded CRO shop now offers a full suite of hydraulic services, including inspection, testing, repair, and overhaul of individual components and assemblies for Bell aircraft. These improvements are designed to reduce operator downtime, lower costs, and provide tailored support that meets customers’ operational and budgetary needs. Collectively, these enhancements have contributed to a 50% increase in Bell’s component capability over the past 12 months. “This expansion reflects a major investment in our operations and a clear, long-term commitment to the Australian rotary wing market,” said Dean Ashton, general manager, Bell Textron Australia. “By upgrading our facilities, introducing new services, and growing our team through workforce and talent development, we are strengthening our ability to provide reliable, responsive, and locally driven support for operators across Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific region. These enhancements are part of our broader vision to build a comprehensive aftermarket support ecosystem that meets the evolving needs of our customers today and well into the future.” To further support customers, Bell Australia has a dedicated CRO logistics team focused on streamlining freight forwarding for faster turnaround times and improving spares management to strengthen demand forecasting and optimize inventory. The expansion has also created new job opportunities. Over the last 18 months, the CRO shop has doubled its staff to support current growth and future demand. Bell Australia has an apprenticeship program and has increased investment in factory training for technicians, building a strong pipeline of skilled talent and maintaining rigorous quality standards. The facility holds certifications from CASA 145, FAA, and TCCA, underscoring compliance with global aviation standards. Bell Australia’s hydraulic services currently cover the overhaul and repair of hydraulic servos for the Bell 205, Bell 206, Bell 212, Bell 407, and Bell 412. Integrated servo and valve assemblies are also available for the Bell 212 and Bell 412, with further capability expansions planned. Rotortrade MRO Latrobe gains AFAC approval for Mexican-registered helicopters Rotortrade MRO Latrobe has received Mexico’s Workshop Certificate Convalidation from the Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil (AFAC), expanding our ability to support helicopter operators across Mexico and the Americas. The approval authorises our FAA Part 145-certified facility in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, to perform maintenance, inspections, repairs, modifications and retrofit work on Mexican-registered helicopters. Latrobe capabilities currently cover: • Bell 206, 407, 412 and 429 • Airbus H130, H135 and H145 • Leonardo AW119 and AW109 series In addition to line and base maintenance, the facility provides structural repairs, avionics integration, aircraft completions, mission equipment installations, retrofit services and cockpit modernisation programs. As an official dealer for Garmin, Astronautics and Skytrac, Rotortrade MRO Latrobe can also provide OEM-supported avionics and mission equipment solutions. The AFAC approval represents another important step in Rotortrade’s strategy to provide customers with integrated aircraft sales, maintenance and lifecycle support worldwide. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]