The Bell Training Academy’s new 525 Flight Simulation Training Device reaches a major milestone as pilots begin logging hours ahead of type certification.
Cologne, Germany – 17 November 2025: At European Rotors, Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. company, announced that the Bell 525 Flight Simulation Training Device at the Bell Training Academy has received Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) Flight Simulation Interim Level C Training Device qualification. Designed and manufactured by Bell affiliate TRU Simulation + Training Inc., the device marks a significant step toward preparing pilots for future operations on the Bell 525 platform.
“This milestone is a great step toward preparing our teams for future operations with the Bell 525 and future pilots for type rating,” said Mike Deslatte, senior vice president at Bell. “Now, our pilots can log Bell 525 flight hours and build on their aircraft knowledge from flight test operations.”
The Bell 525 features fly-by-wire flight controls, an industry-leading drive system, and integrated vehicle health monitoring. Its drive system architecture removes high-speed components from the main rotor gearbox, incorporating them into independent engine reduction gearboxes—an approach described as precedent-setting.
The newly qualified simulator incorporates high-fidelity visual systems, advanced motion platforms, and a realistic cockpit environment to replicate Bell 525 performance and handling. TRU Simulation has equipped the device to mirror real-world flight conditions, enabling pilots to train with confidence in a controlled, immersive environment.
About Bell
For 90 years, Bell has reimagined flight and pioneered major industry firsts—from breaking the sound barrier to certifying the first commercial helicopter, contributing to NASA’s early lunar missions, and advancing tiltrotor technology. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, Bell operates globally as a subsidiary of Textron Inc. With a workforce that includes many veterans, the company remains committed to supporting military and commercial aviation with reliable, safety-focused innovation.
About TRU Simulation + Training Inc.
TRU Simulation + Training Inc., a Textron Inc. company, provides high-fidelity training devices and full-motion simulators for the aviation sector. With more than a decade of expertise, TRU delivers customised simulator solutions designed to enhance safety and realism for pilots across the industry.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry organisation offering innovative solutions across aviation, defence, industrial, and finance markets. Its family of globally recognised brands includes Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, and Textron Systems.
SOURCE AND IMAGE: BELL
