Helicopter Air Ambulance (HAA) operator, CareFlite, signed an order with Bell for a an IFR equipped Bell 407Xi which will join the operator’s existing fleet of two Bell 429s that operate 24hr airlift capability to critical care patients in North Central Texas. The new aircraft will be fitted with the Garmin G1000H™ NXi Flight Deck suite which enhances situational awareness and reduces pilot workload.
In addition to the two 429s and the new 407GXi, the CareFlite operates a further five 407s dispersed to bases at Texas Health Fort Worth Hospital, Methodist Dallas Medical Center, North Texas Medical Center Gainesville, McKinney National Airport, Whitney, Granbury Municipal Airport, and Burnet Municipal Airport. Since its establishment CareFlite has provided critical care airlift to over a million patients across North Central Texas and Southern Oklahoma.
Commenting on the order, Lane Evans, Bell MD North America said “With CareFlite’s new Bell 407GXi and the two IFR certified Bell 429s currently in its fleet, CareFlite will continue to facilitate around-the-clock critical care to patients across North and Central Texas, Bell is proud to continue to support and provide the CareFlite team with ready and reliable aircraft.” Responding Kevin Reynolds, Interim CEO and COO of CareFlite replied “Bell has been a part of CareFlite’s mission of ‘Making Precious Minutes Count’ since 1979 For more than 40 years, CareFlite has utilized Bell aircraft to complete life-saving operations to patients in North and Central Texas, and we are proud to expand our current fleet capabilities with the new Bell 407GXi.”
