South Texas' Nonprofit Air Ambulance
HALO-Flight adds a Bell 407 with an IFR kit to its fleet, making it the first HEMS operator with IFR flight capabilities.
HAI – Heli Expo Anaheim, CA (Jan. 29, 2020) Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today HALO-Flight has signed a purchase agreement for a Bell 407GXi with Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) kit to add to its existing Bell aircraft fleet. HALO-Flight will be the first HEMS 407 operator with IFR flight capabilities.
“We are excited to announce that HALO-Flight is the first HEMS 407 operator with IFR capabilities. This will give our customer more of an advantage in the air during tough weather conditions,” said Doug Schoen, Managing Director, North America. “Bell is proud to support HALO-Flight and the important Missions they fly. We look forward to working together for many years.”
HALO-Flight, a nonprofit air ambulance organization, began services in 1987. It provides emergency medical transport for critically ill and injured persons requiring immediate medical attention within the South Texas service area, and by transfer to trauma centers outside the Coastal Bend. Citizens and local hospitals rely on HALO-Flight to rapidly transport patients by helicopter. The company already operates three Bell 407’s and a Bell 429 for air ambulance services.
The Bell 407GXi IFR will enable HALO-Flight to have more flights and save more lives in a cost-effective way. An IFR certified aircraft will give the company advantages in the air ambulance market. These new capabilities allow all-weather operations while continuing to provide multi-mission capability safely, reliably, and effectively.
“We are proud to add an IFR configured Bell 407GXi helicopter to our current fleet. This aircraft will be extremely beneficial for our EMS Missions and allow us to reach our patients in all-weather conditions.” said Tom Klassen, Executive Director, HALO-Flight. “Bell provides us with safe, quality, and reliable aircraft which helps us be the connection between a patient and the treatment they need.”
The Bell 407GXi’s Garmin G1000H NXi Flight Deck enhances situational awareness and reduces pilot workload by delivering easy-to-read information at a glance. The aircraft offers the lowest direct operating costs of any IFR-capable helicopter produced today.
Arrow Aviation will be installing Helifab’s articulated EMS litter installation which provides litter restraint for transportation of ambulatory person and articulates to either a 45° or 90° loading position and is certified for taxi, takeoff, and landing with backrest inclined 30°. A Lexan Patient/Pilot Guard, Aft radio audio panel mount and cargo track equipment mount provisions. Also, installation of Helifab’s medical oxygen system provides up to 115 cu. ft. of gaseous oxygen storage Single pump medical vacuum with two in cabin outlet ports medical air system, Over patient oxygen port outlet enclosure, with IV hangers. A 500-watt 115V AC inverter is included with two AC outlets and two twin port USB chargers in cabin. Also provided is a 120V shore power system with external shore power access door.
For more information, visit the HALO-Flight or the Bell website.
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About Bell
Thinking above and beyond is what we do. For more than 80 years, we’ve been reimagining the experience of flight – and where it can take us.
We are pioneers. We were the first to break the sound barrier and to certify a commercial helicopter. We were a part of NASA’s first lunar mission and brought advanced tiltrotor systems to market. Today, we’re defining the future of on-demand mobility.
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About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation + Training. For more information, visit: www.textron.com.
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