BT-67 Air-FTG^®

March 2008

Overview

Oshkosh, WI – March 15, 2008: Bell Geospace announces it has taken delivery of its first 100% owned aircraft, a DC-3 which was modified and rebuilt by Basler Turbo Conversions of Oshkosh, WI. The conversion, known as a BT-67, begins with an original DC-3, one of the most versatile planes of the 20th century, and upgrades it with 2 large Pratt & Whitney Turbo prop engines, modern avionics and completely new flight controls and systems throughout. The conversion took place from July of 2007 up to the delivery on March 15, 2008.

Bell Geospace will install a state-of-the-art Full Tensor Gravity Gradiometer (3D-FTG) and associated geophysical equipment onto the plane to carry out surveys it contracts for the worldwide Petroleum and Minerals markets. Bell has been performing 3D-FTG surveys since 1998 onboard ocean-going ships, a smaller Cessna Grand Caravan airplane and even a Zeppelin airship. The BT-67 platform was tested in the second quarter of 2007 and provided superior quality data in conjunction with excellent productivity.

Tom Weigt, President of Basler Turbo notes that “The BT-67 is a special missions aircraft that combines platform stability and extended mission range which has proven invaluable in accommodating the new survey technologies which are more demanding on both counts.” Bell’s President, Scott Hammond, added that “this combination provides Bell Geospace with an excellent survey platform that will allow us to provide our clients with even higher quality data more efficiently and will allow us to mobilize to remote areas of the world very quickly.”

The 3D-FTG survey equipment will be installed on the aircraft later this month in Houston. Bell plans on inviting clients and interested industry professionals to an open house once the equipment is installed. For more information on this event, please contact John Mims at 281-591-6900 x402 or jmims@bellgeo.com.

Bell Geospace develops and sells high resolution gravity based solutions to the mining, oil and gas, and government markets using its Full Tensor Gradiometer systems. Bell Geospace’s Air-FTG® system is the first commercial airborne gravity gradiometer capable of measuring all independent components of the gradient tensor.

Bell's BT-67 will facilitate efficient acquisition of State of the Art Air-FTG^® data anywhere in the world.

Copyright © 1996-2006 Bell Geospace All Rights Reserved