The Hindu Business Line : Textron expects $1-billion business in India in 5 years

Textron Inc, a multi-industry company manufacturing Bell Helicopters and Cessna aircraft, hopes to do business worth at least $1 billion with India during the next five years, the company Executive Vice-President, Ms Mary L. Howell, has said.

"We would like to cement our long-term relations with India. Bell Helicopters and Cessna aircraft will lead the way in doing business here although there will also be activity in other sectors," Ms Howell said at a press conference.

The Vice-President, Cessna Aircraft, Mr Roger Whyte, said that in the short term as the economy grows the demand for small aircraft and jets manufactured by the company was bound to grow. "At present there are about 50 business jets and turbo aircraft in India but this number will grow to several hundred over time," Mr Whyte added.

The Senior Vice-President, Sales and Marketing, Bell Helicopters, Mr Robert Fitzpatrick, said that over the next 15 years, India would require helicopters worth $4 billion. "India is a growing and emerging market for Bell. The civil market has grown five fold from 1995 through to June last year with 115 aircraft being delivered," Mr Fitzpatrick added.

Training academy

The company, which is in the running to sell 197 helicopters to the Indian Army, is also in talks for setting up a training academy for helicopter pilots. "By the middle of the year, we hope to make an announcement about the setting up of the training academy," Mr Fitzpatrick said.