Bell announced orders for 18 of its 407GXi turbine single helicopters and options for nine more at this week’s Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC) in Fort Worth, Texas.
Life Flight Network (LFN) has signed a purchase agreement for 12 aircraft for delivery by 2023, adding to its existing fleet of four Bell 429 light twins and five 407GXis. LFN is the nation’s largest not-for-profit air medical transport service with 25 rotor-wing bases, nine fixed-wing bases, and two neonatal and pediatric bases throughout the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West. LFN’s helicopters will be IFR-capable.
Separately, Bell announced a deal to sell six 407GXi helicopters to Global Medical Response (GMR), with options for nine more, to expand its air ambulance operations in North America. The six helicopters on firm order will be delivered by 2023. GMR operates through multiple air ambulance brands, including Air Evac Lifeteam, Guardian Flight, Med-Trans Corp., and Reach Air Medical Services. Collectively, they transported more than 125,000 patients in 2020.
More than 500 Bell helicopters have been configured for air ambulance missions and have collectively accumulated more than one million flight hours. Bell’s 1,600-strong 407 fleet has flown more than six million hours. The 407GXi is equipped with the Garmin G1000H flight deck.