Bell Textron Canada Celebrates 6000th Helicopter Build
Bell Textron Canada has reached a major manufacturing milestone with the completion of its 6,000th commercial helicopter at the Mirabel Aerospace Centre in Quebec. The company marked the occasion on May 12, 2025, as employees and invited guests gathered to witness the moment when the latest airframe rolled off the assembly line. This milestone underscores Bell Textron Canada’s decades-long commitment to designing and producing rotorcraft capable of undertaking the most critical missions in some of the world’s most demanding environments.
The 6,000th helicopter produced in Canada is one of two new Subaru Bell 412EPX utility models destined for the Government of Quebec. These aircraft will join the fleet operated by the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable through its Service Aérien Gouvernemental, providing dedicated support for the Sûreté du Québec. Outfitted in the distinctive blue and white livery of the provincial police force, the helicopters will soon head north for operational duty across Quebec’s vast forests and rugged terrain.
“The delivery of our 6,000th Canadian-built helicopter highlights our ongoing investment in domestic production and our ability to deliver aircraft tailored to critical public-service roles,” said Michael Nault, General Manager of Bell Textron Canada. “Featuring advanced avionics, a reinforced airframe and versatile cabin configurations, our Subaru Bell 412EPX model is ideal for a range of tasks from search and rescue to tactical law enforcement missions.”
Madame Liette Abel Normandin, Senior Director of Strategy and Institutional Affairs for the Sûreté du Québec, praised the partnership between the provincial police service and the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable. “Our ability to conduct search and rescue operations, flood evacuations, aerial surveillance and rapid-response missions across Quebec depends on reliable, high-performance helicopters,” she said. “These new Subaru Bell 412EPX aircraft will enhance our operational readiness and help safeguard communities throughout the province.”
Bell Textron Canada’s Mirabel facility, located just northwest of Montreal, has produced every model in the Bell 412 lineage since the plant opened nearly four decades ago. The Subaru Bell 412EPX builds on that heritage with a modernized variant that incorporates digital autopilot systems, a four-axis integrated flight control system and an upgraded engine package offering improved hover performance at high altitudes.
Over the course of 2024, the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable’s aircraft fleet completed 116 missions across Quebec, demonstrating the vital role of government-operated helicopters in public safety and emergency response. The new 412EPX units will further extend the Service Aérien Gouvernemental’s capabilities, enabling crews to airlift medical personnel, transport specialized equipment into remote regions, and support firefighting teams during forest fire season.
The Subaru Bell partnership reflects a long-standing collaboration between Bell Textron Canada and its Japanese affiliate, which brings together Bell’s proven airframe designs with Subaru’s precision manufacturing and quality control processes. Each helicopter undergoes rigorous ground and flight testing at Mirabel before being delivered to its end user, ensuring compliance with both Transport Canada and U.S. Federal Aviation Administration standards.
As Bell Textron Canada celebrates the production of its 6,000th commercial helicopter, the company remains focused on future growth. With a diverse product lineup that spans light single-engine models to heavy-lift twin-engine workhorses, the Mirabel centre is poised to continue serving law enforcement agencies, offshore energy operators and emergency medical services worldwide. The milestone build not only honors Bell’s Canadian workforce but also reinforces Quebec’s role as a key hub for advanced aerospace manufacturing.
The two new Subaru Bell 412EPX utility helicopters are scheduled for official handover to the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable later this month, after which they will undergo mission-specific outfitting before entering service. Community members and public-safety partners alike will soon see these state-of-the-art helicopters patrolling the skies, a fitting testament to Bell Textron Canada’s enduring reputation for reliability and innovation.
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