Will Continue Operating Manufacturing Facility There For The Next Two Years

City officials in Lafayette, LA say that Bell Helicopter has committed to another two years at its facility at Lafayette Regional Airport.

The Advertiser newspaper reports that the company is set to begin update to its leased 82,300 square foot manufacturing facility, according to Lafayette Regional Airport (KLFT) Executive Director Steven Picou. He said that Bell will be making an additional $11.5 million capital investment in tooling and equipment at the airport.

While Bell announced in May that it would be moving the manufacture of the 505 Jet Ranger X aircraft from Lafayette to Canada, they will be doing some manufacturing of the 525 Relentless at KLFT before being shipped back to Amarillo, TX for final assembly.

Picou said that because of its size, the 525 will be the only helicopter to be built in Lafayette, and "they are going to extend their contract with the state for the next two years. So monetarily for the airport, there is no change, just some changes in the building and use.”

(Images from file)

FMI: www.bellhelicopter.com, www.lftairport.com