DFW CareFlite purchases second Bell 429 for its Emergency Medical Services

AMTC Long Beach, CA (October 19, 2015) – Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today a purchase agreement with CareFlite for its second Bell 429. CareFlite, a nonprofit 501(c) (3) corporation based in Dallas Fort Worth, provides air and ground ambulance service from its bases across North Texas. The aircraft will be outfitted to perform Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) missions throughout the region. This sale comes on the heels of a previous order for one Bell 429 that was delivered in May and four Bell 407GXs that were purchased in 2013.

“We will continue to rely on the Bell 429 for the advanced situational awareness and performance the aircraft offers our pilots,” said James Swartz, President and CEO of CareFlite. “It is important to get our patients the care they need quickly and safely, and our fleet of Bell helicopters will help us do just that. The Bell 429 provides the space and lift needed for advanced, team transports.”

CareFlite, America’s oldest joint use air medical program (founded in 1979) is sponsored by Baylor Scott and White Health, JPS Health Network, Methodist Health System, Parkland Health and Hospital and Texas Health Resources. CareFlite provides helicopter EMS service to North Texas and Southern Oklahoma from its bases in and around the DFW Metroplex. The new Bell 429s, along with the four Bell 407GXs, will be used to further support these extensive services.

“We’ve been supporting CareFlite’s lifesaving missions since 1979 and are truly honored by their trust in our operations,” said Anthony Moreland, Bell Helicopter’s vice president of North American sales. “The safe and reliable characteristics of the Bell 429 will provide peace of mind when transporting patients.”

The Bell 429 is one of the most advanced light twin helicopters ever developed, offering a fully integrated glass cockpit with advanced drive system and best-in-class WAAS navigation and IFR capability. Its 204 cubic foot main and aft cabin gives personnel unobstructed full body access to the patient. It’s the only light twin-engine helicopter on the market that offers true two-litter capability with enough room for two medical crew members plus pilots or, three medical crew members and one pilot. With enough space left over for vital medical equipment, its innovative deck height enables one person to load a litter without straining, and the 60 inch wide side-loading opening makes loading or unloading easier. It is the first helicopter certified through the MSG-3 process, resulting in reduced maintenance costs for operators.

“The Bell 429 continues to impress our HEMS customers throughout North America, and we expect to continue to see strong growth as more and more customers see firsthand the amazing capabilities of this machine,” added Moreland.

Press release Bell Helicopters