Rotorcraft
Bell's Lower Quarterly Deliveries Won't Last, CEO Says
Textron chief expects Bell's deliveries to ramp up for the remainder of 2019.
During the first quarter, Bell delivered a 407GXi to Shaanxi Helicopter in China, the first of an order for 100 of the light single from Shaanxi. (Photo: Bell)
During the first quarter, Bell delivered a 407GXi to Shaanxi Helicopter in China, the first of an order for 100 of the light single from Shaanxi. (Photo: Bell)

Bell delivered fewer helicopters in the first three months of the year but managed to raise profit even with lower revenue, parent company Textron announced yesterday in its first-quarter 2019 earnings results. For the quarter, Bell delivered 30 commercial helicopters compared with 46 in the first quarter of 2018. Profit at the Fort Worth-based rotorcraft manufacturer was up by $17 million a year ago to $104 million, while revenue slipped 2 percent in the same period to $739 million.