Following up on the strategy it announced at last year’s HAI to expand in the helicopter parts and service market, Bell Helicopter Textron has announced that it acquired the helicopter skid shoe business of Calimesa, Calif.-based Carbide Technology. The $1-million-a-year-revenue business line will become part of Edwards & Associates, a unit of Textron that provides parts, service and modifications for the helicopter market. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Skid shoes protect helicopter landing gear and other equipment from abrasion damage resulting from contact with hard surfaces. Carbide Technology’s patented carbide-coating technology products that Textron is acquiring are extremely durable, preventing skid-tube wear and premature replacement. Adversely affected by both flat commercial helo sales and the uncertain future of the MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor, Bell is making what inroads it can into the aircraft parts and services market. “Growth in this aircraft parts and service market remains strong,” said Textron executive vice president and CFO Ted French. “Consistent with Textron’s overall portfolio strategy, we are making this acquisition to increase our participation in this attractive, growth market.”