Friday, June 21, 2024 Bell Textron Canada Limited, a subsidiary of Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT), has announced the successful first flight of a modernized CH-146 Griffon helicopter for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). This upgraded helicopter, a variant of the Bell 412EP, is part of the Griffon Limited Life Extension (GLLE) project.
Under GLLE, Bell will enhance the fleet’s avionics systems, cockpit displays, engines, and sensor systems. This milestone comes nearly five months after Bell secured the In-Service Support (ISS) contract to sustain the RCAF’s fleet through 2039. “The Bell 412 remains a preferred aircraft for militaries worldwide, and the RCAF operates the largest and best-equipped militarized fleet of 412s,” said Danny Maldonado, Chief Commercial Officer at Bell.
“We are honored to continue our partnership with the RCAF, enhancing their mission capabilities with next-generation technologies.” To celebrate this historic flight, Bell hosted an event at their Commercial Centre of Excellence, where attendees witnessed the upgraded platform’s first flight. The RCAF uses the CH-146 Griffon fleet for various missions, including global humanitarian relief under the United Nations and reassurance measures under NATO.
Domestically, the fleet is heavily utilized for Search and Rescue operations and support for first responders. Last year, the CH-146 Griffon fleet surpassed half a million flight hours. “As Canada’s sole in-country helicopter manufacturer, Be.
