New Bell Helicopter Wire Strike Protection System development

Magellan Aerospace announced today a new agreement with Bell Helicopter for a Wire Strike Protection System (WSPS®) kit development. The helicopter to be fitted with WSPS will be the Bell UH-1Y. The design and production of the WSPS will be carried out at Magellan's Bristol Aerospace operating division in Winnipeg, Manitoba, for delivery of the prototype kits in 2011.

Bristol is the global expert for this unique system, offering a proven design and acknowledged technological expertise. In January of this year, the company also announced a new agreement with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), headquartered in Bangalore, India for the design and development of a new WSPS kit for the HAL Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH).

Bell Helicopters is a long time customer and supporter of WSPS. Bristol's initial WSPS development and testing was for the Bell CH-136 Kiowa in 1977. Bristol has previously adapted the design to several variants of Bell's UH-1 helicopters.

Mr. Don Boitson, Vice President and General Manger, Bristol Aerospace, commented, "Our WSPS continues to lead the way with helicopter OEMs, and we are proud of our long-lasting and ongoing relationship with Bell Helicopter."

In 1977 Bristol, with the Canadian Forces, designed the WSPS to provide a measure of protection for helicopters to the potentially devastating consequences of inadvertent encounters with horizontally strung wires and cables. In 2009, Bristol reached the milestone of delivering its 20,000th WSPS kit. More than 65 commercial and military models of WSPS have been developed for customers around the world and new systems continue to be designed for new helicopter developments that are increasing in size and complexity.