Bell Helicopter Builds Training Relationship Along with V-22

Bell Helicopter is expanding its Amarillo, Texas base by adding new facilities worth $50 million. Approximately $25 million will go towards the US101 presidential helicopter project. "We'll have a new $25 million facility. That will be awesome," said Richard "Buzz" David from the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation (AEDC).

Why did Bell choose Amarillo? In the late 1990s Bell sent a request for proposal (RFP) to locate a factory, and 1,200 cities responded. "We narrowed it down," said Roger Williams, Bell'a Amarillo site leader. "Amarillo made us an offer we couldn't turn down: 184 acres. There is a rail hub here. The airport has the third longest runway in North America. There was a location-incentives agreement." The AEDC has a sales tax-funded economic development company. A half-cent sales tax is added locally in the city of Amarillo and generates $11.5 million a year. Most of that, 60 to 65 percent, comes from people who don't live in Amarillo but drive in to shop or pass through, as Amarillo is a convenient stopping point for those traveling Route 66.

Bell's economic impact to the Amarillo community is huge. In 2004 Bell's payroll and direct spending were greater than $70 million. Bell has made a decision to purchase as many of its parts and supplies locally as possible.

Many program managers, engineers, and research and development personnel moved to Amarillo from Ft. Worth. Bell said they felt that there was a military appeal to jobs there and the company has "never had to run an ad for flight electricians, flight mechanics, and inspectors," said Williams. "We are hiring ten to twenty new employees every Monday."

Bell sees growth for the V22 program in the form of a V22 gunship to escort the V22. "Only another V22 would be able to keep up with it and go where it can go," said Williams. As V22 production increases, more buildings will be needed. The US 101 will be housed in a separate and secured building. "We're building the presidential fleet in there. We will start the new building for that in the next three months so that production for the helicopter can start in June 2006."

The relationship between Bell and Amarillo seems strong. The facilities agreement for the current structures is for 20 years. "In twenty years they own the building," said AEDC vice president Steve Pritchett.

"Bell is going to be here twenty to thirty years at least," confirmed Williams.

One key consideration Bell had before it located there was whether or not the community could supply the specialized skills needed by employees. Amarillo College, Midland College, and one other technical school are affiliated. "We are pulling engineers from the national labor pool," said Williams. "We are recruiting from Wichita and Long Beach, among other places." But there was some concern as far as technical types.

"There was a concern about whether Amarillo could attract the number and level of people needed," said Jim Morris, special projects manager at Amarillo College. "We basically said to Bell, `what do you want and when do you want it?' They told us what they needed, and we developed BETA: Bell Education Training."

BETA has two programs. One is set up to train potential new hires. These are people who want to work for Bell but have had little or no technical training or aviation background. Successful completion of the course guarantees the participant an interview with Bell. "We exceed the number per class; we are closing classes," said Morris. "All of these students have the opportunity for an interview." Bell is not required to hire the graduates of the program, however.

The program with Amarillo College and Midland College takes non-skilled applicants and consists of 500 hours of instruction. The cost is $1,500 and is paid by the student. "Bell commits to give an interview," said Roger Williams. "[So far] three hundred thirty six people have graduated from the program and Bell has hired one hundred thirty seven of them. One hundred four were enrolled as of March 2005."

The second program is for current employees of Bell Helicopter. These courses are designed in concert with the requests of Bell's management. "We have a close and ongoing relationship with Bell. Bell really has a commitment to education," said Morris. "Bell encourages its employees to go on and get their A & P certificate and associate's degree," he added. The school is looking at adding an associate's degree in applied aerospace manufacturing science. It also offers a composites and NDT Level III training certificate, because the other closest training facilities that cover those areas are in Nebraska and Utah. "Drilling composites and drilling sheet metal are two different things," said Morris. The BETA programs are supported by a Texas Workforce Commission grant.

"Bell is tremendously dedicated to training," said Williams. "We give 80 hours of initial training to every new-hire. We require between 60 to 90 hours per employee per year of continuing training. We've teamed with Amarillo College and without them I don't think we'd be able to pull this off." Once a person is an employee of Bell, the programs for continuing education through Amarillo College are free of charge to the employee, supported by an educational grant.

"We've been working hand-in-glove with Bell since 1998. It's been a delightful experience for Amarillo College." said Amarillo College vice president academic affairs, Dr. R. E. Byrd.

"I stand in awe of the training partnership with Amarillo College" said Williams.

Bell officials said that rather than treat the Amarillo facility as a factory that is 350 miles up the road, they will integrate it with their other operations and move program management and engineering teams to Amarillo.

Other programs that are located at the facility include the re-manufacture of the UH-1Y and AH-1Z. These are older airframes that are being refurbed and rebuilt with a commonality of parts between the two models. There will be 100 UH-1Ys and 180 AH-1Zs involved. Of the major components used on both helicopters, 84 percent are common between the two to ease maintenance later.

For the US101 there will be a totally secure, self-sufficient building with tight security. US101 final assembly, functional test, and flight test will be done in Amarillo, and 65 percent of that helicopter will be U.S.-made components. "This will be the Oval Office in the sky," said Williams. Bell and partners Lockheed Martin and Augusta Westland, were considered underdogs for that contract behind Sikorsky, which had made the presidential helicopter for years. "It was tremendously heartening when it happened," said Williams.

Bell is entering a competition for the armed reconnaissance helicopter with a Model 407 made battle ready. That project in just in the RFP stage but would most likely come to Amarillo if Bell wins it.

"We delivered 12 [V-22s] last year and plan to deliver 19 this year," said Williams. We want to get the price down. It's $78 million now and we'd like to get the price down to $58 million by 2010. The target is 45 deliveries per year. We have been in limited production. When we go the full rate production, economies can be achieved." Then Bell hopes the V-22 will be a more affordable option and that the program will continue to grow in Amarillo along with the presidential helicopter program. -- By Joy Finnegan