IFR Capable Helicopter Well Suited to Pacific Northwest Mountain Mission

Bell Textron has announced that Life Flight Network—the Aurora, Oregon-based non-profit that provides air and ground critical care transport service throughout the American Pacific Northwest—will take delivery of four Bell 407GXi helicopters.

The addition of the four new aircraft will see Life Flight Network—which currently operates a fleet of 53 aircraft—become the largest air medical operator of the Bell 407GXi in the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West—the geographic and geological region located between the front ranges of the Rocky Mountains [east] and the Cascade and Sierra Nevada ranges [west].

Lane Evans, Bell managing director for the Americas states: “The Bell 407GXi with certified IFR operations allows Life Flight Network to expand its Helicopter Air Ambulance (HAA) service area safely with increased performance and reliability. Bell is honored Life Flight Network continues to put its trust in Bell, and we look forward to supporting their mission for many years.”

With 27-rotor-wing bases and ten fixed-wing bases throughout the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West, Life Flight Network is the nation’s largest not-for-profit air medical transport service. For over 44-years, Life Flight Network has provided ICU-level care to patients in need of emergency medical transport. The organization supports hospitals, police and fire departments, and first responders in the ongoing endeavor of providing patients the highest quality emergency medical care.

Ben Clayton, Life Flight Network CEO said of his company’s recent aircraft acquisitions: “Last year, Life Flight Network announced the order of 12 Bell 407GXi, the first two of which have already arrived. We are proud to announce the purchase agreement of four additional aircraft. The Bell 407GXi with IFR capabilities allows Life Flight Network to expand our performance and safety of operations to better serve our rural communities with air medical transport.”

The 407GXi, which was unveiled by Bell at the Heli-Expo 2018 and received certification from Transport Canada that same year, is the first helicopter launched by the company after its rebranding as Bell. The aircraft is based on Bell’s 407GXP—which it is expected to replace.

The 407GXi is a multi-role utility helicopter powered by an 862-shaft-horsepower (643kW), Rolls-Royce 250-C47E/4 engine that motivates the machine to a maximum cruise speed of 264-kilometers per hour. The turboshaft engine features a dual-digital full-authority digital electronic control (FADEC) system that interfaces with an on-board power situation indicator (PSI) to provide pilots precise control of power settings.

Pilots will also appreciate the 407GXi’s G1000H integrated avionics suite which combines 10.4-inch high-definition LCD primary flight displays (PFDs) with advanced digital processing to provide critical, real-time data germane to the aircraft and the flight-environment, thereby increasing situational awareness and easing pilot workload.  

The helicopter has and empty weight of 1,224-kilograms and a maximum useful load of 1,043kg—a capability Life Flight Network will find eminently useful.

FMI: www.bellflight.com