Bell Helicopter Textron Canada relocates assembly program to Quebec

Jun. 6, 2016 – Quebec is welcoming Bell Helicopter Textron Canada’s plan to relocate the assembly of its new Bell 505 five-passenger commercial helicopter to Mirabel, Que. — assembly was originally scheduled to take place in Louisiana.

To support the relocation, the Quebec and Canadian governments say they will adjust certain conditions of their current loans with Bell Helicopter Textron Canada.

In exchange, in addition to moving Bell 505 assembly to Quebec, Bell Helicopter Textron Canada is committing to carry out flight testing, certification and final assembly of its next commercial model in Mirabel. The company is also committing to relocate the manufacturing of certain components of its Bell 429, Bell 505 and Bell 525 models to Mirabel. These components are currently being manufactured by sub-contractors.

“We are proud to support this project, which will create more than 100 highly skilled jobs in Quebec while securing the 900 or so existing jobs at the Mirabel facilities,” said Dominique Anglade, minister of economy, science and innovation and minister responsible for the digital strategy.

“Innovation is a core Canadian value, and Bell Helicopter Textron Canada’s decision to move the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X assembly line to Canada speaks to the strong advanced manufacturing capabilities that exist here in Mirabel specifically, as well as in the rest of the country,” continued Navdeep Bains, minister of innovation, science and economic development.