CAS to represent Bell Helicopters in SL and Maldives

• Plans to establish a local maintenance facility to repair Bell-made helicopters

By Asiri Fernando

Ceylon Aeronautical Services (CAS) has recently signed up to be the representative for Bell Textron Inc. (Bell Helicopters) in Sri Lanka and Maldives.

The aviation service provider plans to provide total solutions for Bell helicopters - ranging from parking, hanger space, engineering solutions and operational solutions, CAS President Sampath Ranaweera told Daily FT. 

Established in 2010, CAS is a Board of Investment (BOI) Company providing aircraft structural maintenance, support services, painting and refurbishing in Sri Lanka. CAS currently provides aircraft repair, modification, inspection and overhaul services to local and regional clients for both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircrafts, based out of their facility near Koggala Air Port.  

According to Ranaweera, CAS plans to establish Maintenance Repair Organization (MRO) for Bell Helicopters in Sri Lanka and is exploring the possibility of providing MRO facilities for other helicopter makers in the future. 

“We have a team of qualified and experienced technicians and staff. Many of them are retired Air Force technicians and engineers. We have submitted our proposal to the Government authorities regarding the proposed MRO for other helicopters and have received positive feedback so far. A local MRO will be beneficial to the aviation industry in Sri Lanka and will also contribute to saving foreign currency outflow” Ranaweera said.