Agreements Extend Life of CH-146 Griffon Fleet

Bell Textron Canada Limited—a subsidiary of Bell Textron Inc.—announced on 26 April 2023 that it had awarded subcontracts to Alpine Aerotech LP and Heli-One Canada ULC to support the Canadian Armed Forces’ initiative to modernize the nation’s CH-146 Griffon aircraft fleet.

The Bell CH-146 Griffon is a multi-role utility helicopter designed for the Canadian Armed Forces by Bell. The aircraft is a variant of the company’s  412EP—itself a four-blade main-rotor evolution of Bell’s 204/205 model on which the U.S. military’s famed UH-1 Huey was based. The CH-146 is used in a wide variety of roles, including aerial firepower, reconnaissance, and search and rescue missions. The machine is powered by a single 1,250-shaft-horsepower Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3D Twin-Pac coupled turboshaft engine and is capable of carrying two pilots and up to ten troops over a maximum range of 354-nautical-miles at a maximum speed of 140-knots.

As the original manufacturer and intellectual property owner of the CH-146 Griffon, Bell was awarded the contract to extend the life of Canada’s 85-helicopter fleet in May 2022. Per subject contract’s provisions, Bell will modify the first nine aircraft, with subsequent CH-146s to be modified by Alpine Aerotech LP and Heli-One Canada ULC—both of which were selected by Public Services and Procurement Canada after an open, fair, rigorous, and transparent competition for the award.

Bell Textron Canada president Steeve Lavoie stated: "I am pleased to announce the award of two important subcontracts to Alpine Aerotech and Heli-One. These contracts will support job creation in Canada and demonstrate once again the importance and quality of our Canadian companies in the aerospace sector. We are proud to join forces with these dedicated and established rotorcraft support entities driven by excellence to support the Canadian Armed Forces and our men and women in uniform throughout the Griffon missions here and abroad.”

Alpine Aerotech president Jeff Denoumme remarked: “On behalf of the entire Alpine Aerotech team, we are extremely pleased to be continuing our longstanding relationship to support both Bell and the Department of National Defense with the upcoming CH146 Griffon Mk II (GLLE) implementation. We wish to congratulate Heli-One as being also selected to support the implementation and look forward to working together to facilitate a successful program for all stakeholders.”

Heli-One general manager of sales and commercial and customer support Carolyn Forsyth set forth: “Heli-One is thrilled to be selected by Bell as a supplier for the Griffon Life Limited Extension (GLLE) modification embodiments. The CH-146 Griffon is used as a multi-purpose utility helicopter by the Royal Canadian Air Force and is essential to operations both at home and overseas. We are extremely excited for the opportunity to work with Bell to upgrade the CH-146 Griffon and keep the fleet flying well into the future.”

For almost four decades, Bell Textron Canada has been designing, developing, assembling, delivering, and sustaining state-of-the-art commercial helicopters in Mirabel, Quebec. By providing vertical take-off solutions to operators, businesses, and government agencies around the world, Bell Textron Canada builds upon its legacy as Canada's helicopter company.

FMI: www.textron.com/About/Our-Businesses/Bell