Bell Announces Global Medical Response Deal
On 06 February 2023, Bell Textron, the Fort Worth, Texas-based subsidiary of American industrial conglomerate Textron Inc. and manufacturer of military and civilian rotorcraft, announced the signing of a purchase agreement by which Global Medical Response (GMR) will acquire three additional Bell 407GXi aircraft. The three new helicopters will join the 220-ship, all-Bell helicopter fleet with which GMR conducts emergency medical operations throughout North America.
Bell director of North American sales Lane Evans stated: “As one of the largest air medical service operators in the world, we are honored that GMR has chosen to add the Bell 407GXi to its emergency services fleet. Bell is fully-committed to GMR’s mission, and we are proud to continue supporting them with these versatile aircraft.”
Comprising some 39,000 employees servicing more than four-thousand communities, Global Medical Response is the world’s largest medical transport concern. A partner to large-scale emergency medical organizations such as American Medical Response, Rural Metro Fire, Air Evac Lifeteam, REACH Air Medical Services, Med-Trans Corporation, AirMed International, and Guardian Flight, GMR plays an integral role in providing safe emergency medical transport to communities throughout North America. In 2021, more than 125,000 patients received life-saving care after being transported by GMR aircraft.
GMR Chief Operating Officer Ted Van Horne set forth: “As we grow our fleet to better serve our communities, these Bell 407GXi aircraft will better enable our emergency medical responders to reach those who need care at a moment’s notice. Our fleet of Bell aircraft are [sic] essential to our crews of flight nurses, pilots, paramedics, and the emergency support we provide. We appreciate the partnership we have with Bell and their support in our life-saving emergency missions.”
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 Garmin 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 eminently useful to helicopter air ambulance operators.
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