Air ambulance provider Life Flight Network (LFN) is adding three Bell helicopters to its fleet, bringing the total number of the OEM’s aircraft it operates to 32—five Bell 429 light twins and 27 Bell 407 singles. The new helicopters include two Bell 407GXis and one 429. The 407s have already joined the fleet, and the 429 will be delivered in December. LFN COO Michael Weimer said the new helicopters deliver “the cabin space and speed our crews require to provide life-saving medical care to our patients.”
LFN is the largest not-for-profit air medical program in the U.S. and the largest air medical operator of Bell helicopters in the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West. Since 1978, LFN has grown to 29 helicopter bases, 10 fixed-wing bases, and two neonatal and pediatric bases across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana; it is the largest air medical operator in the region.
“This year, Life Flight Network celebrates 45 years of operations, and Bell is honored to support their incredible history of providing critical care transport,” said Lane Evans, Bell director, North America sales.
Bell has produced more than 1,600 407s, and the fleet has logged six million flight hours. The new 407GXi is equipped with Garmin G1000H NXi avionics and is IFR-certified.