Navy Wanted To Move Build To Britain

Having secured the Marine One contract, Bell Helicopter now has to find a place to build it. Two years ago, Bell announced assembly of the VH-71 frame would take place in Amarillo, TX.

But plans have changed, said Mike Cox, a Bell spokesman. The company is now looking at a move to its home base of Fort Worth. Texas.

Company officials and the Navy both confirmed the change in plans, according to the Fort Worth Star Telegram.

While the decision will ultimately lie with Bell, the company is taking the Navy's opinions into account, Cox said.

"If the Navy were to say, 'Absolutely, we don't want that,' then that's going to be another factor in our decision," he said.

Navy officials had considered moving production to Britain until members of Congress protested. They've also been openly critical of the H-1 costs and delivery delays.

Navy spokesman Lt. Cmdr. John Schofield said it is still evaluating costs and requirements of building the next version of Marine One. A decision will be made after the analyses are complete, he said. Neither city is currently favored, he added.

Cox said a "very complex set of issues" have to be considered in deciding where to build the VH-71 and a final decision is expected this summer.

"It's just kind of a reconsideration of what's going on, business wise," Cox said. "Of course, we want to make sure we can deliver the product on a schedule that they (the Navy) want it delivered on."

Cox declined to tell reporters where exactly the work would go in Fort Worth and would not confirm or deny the fact production would create about 150 new jobs as had been reported by the Amarillo Globe-News.

He also refused to speculate if a new building would be erected, where it would be or what it would cost, citing security requirements.

There are several reasons for the company's desire for a change of venue. The main reason is the company's decision to ramp up the V-22 Osprey and the Marine's H-1 programs at the Amarillo location and the number of each type of aircraft to be built.

Bell is slated to build 19 presidential helicopters, a number significantly less than the number of H-1s and V22s that will be built.

"You're looking at a relatively small number of aircraft in comparison to the H-1 and the V-22 programs," Cox said. "The final decision on where it's going to be built hasn't been made yet."

To date, Fort Worth officials have not talked with Bell or the Navy about tax incentives or other to lure production of the presidential helicopter said Jay Chapa, the city's deputy director of economic development. Amarillo offered $27 million Bell two years ago for facility construction.

FMI: www.bellhelicopter.com, www.navy.mil