News
Edwards & Associates begins New Year in new facility

FEB. 5, 2008 – Edwards
& Associates’, a Bell affiliate and Textron Inc. company, new 140-thousand square foot facility at the company’s 34-acre
site in Northeast Tennessee clearly positions the company as the world
leader in helicopter services and maintenance. The new facility is the
result of record growth as Edwards continues to be the largest
helicopter completion center in the United States.

“We needed a new facility to accommodate the growth
we have seen over the past few years,” said Edwards & Associates
President, Greg Williams. “This building is the result of years of
dedication and determination on the part of all of our employees – and
the loyalty of our global client base.”

The new facility is equipped with an expansive
maintenance and installation hangar, a state-of-the-art avionics test
center, expanded paint shop and modern training room. “It’s a facility
built for today’s demand for expert maintenance and completions,”
Williams says. “The new facility positions Edwards & Associates for
continued growth for decades ahead.”

Edwards
& Associates leads the industry as the foremost Bell® helicopter
completions and maintenance provider in the world. The company’s
workforce, including its subsidiaries, has grown to more than 560
employees with factory-trained technicians and specialists on hand for
helicopter refurbishments and new aircraft completions. Edwards &
Associates also does maintenance, overhaul and repair, avionics,
painting, interior refurbishment, and offers overall customer support.

Affiliated company Aeronautical Accessories, Inc.
operates from a 100,000 square foot facility adjacent to the new
Edwards & Associates operation. Aeronautical Accessories is the
foremost supplier of helicopter accessories in the world. Accessories
for applications in the law enforcement, air medical, EMS, off-shore
oil, forestry and corporate aviation markets mean Aeronautical
Accessories customers can have their helicopter accessories expertly
installed at nearby Edwards & Associates quickly and efficiently.
Likewise, affiliate Rotor Blades International operates facilities in
the US, Europe and the Middle East, providing refurbishments to rotor
blades.

“We are one stop shopping for all of our customers’
needs,” Williams says. “Together, these companies have established
themselves as a leader for over 30 years by providing quality aircraft,
custom completion services, new products, and repair services.