Life Flight Network Signs Purchase Agreement for 12 Bell 407GXi Aircraft

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Fort Worth, TX (2 Nov. 2021) – Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, announced today the signed purchase agreement for 12 Bell 407GXi aircraft to Life Flight Network. The Bell 407GXi outfitted with IFR capabilities will be critical for Life Fight Network’s established missions of providing emergency aerial response to those in need.

“Bell’s top priority remains our commitment to safety,” said Michael Thacker, executive vice president, Innovation and Commercial Business. “In 2019, we announced the certification of one of the industry’s first single-engine IFR aircraft, allowing our customers to operate in Instrument Meteorological Conditions. We are incredibly proud to strengthen our relationship with Life Flight Network and continue to support these life-saving missions when minutes matter.”

Life Flight Network’s current Bell fleet consist of four Bell 429 and five Bell 407GXi helicopters to provide critical care transportation to those in need. Full aircraft delivery is expected to be complete by 2023.

“The Bell 407GXi is a highly reliable and proven helicopter with an advanced avionics suite. Adding the IFR configuration will allow us to answer calls when we normally may be grounded because of inclement weather”, said Ben Clayton, Interim CEO and COO, Life Flight Network. “Today’s agreement to expand our Bell fleet and advance our capabilities is a testament to Bell’s outstanding support in the Air Ambulance segment.”

The company is the nation’s largest not-for-profit air medical transport service with 25 rotor-wing bases, nine fixed-wing bases, and two neonatal and pediatric bases throughout the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West. For nearly 44 years, Life Flight Network has provided ICU-level care to patients in need of emergency medical transport, and has supported hospitals, local police, EMS, fire departments, and emergency responders to help ensure patients receive the highest quality care.

Bell proves its mature production and sustainment support capability with more than 1,600 Bell 407s globally, logging six million flight hours across the fleet and actively performing flight training as well as military and para-public missions. The 407GXi’s Garmin G1000H™ NXi Flight Deck enhances situational awareness and reduces pilot workload by delivering easy-to-read information at a glance. The Bell 407GXi’s new IFR capability will allow all-weather operations while continuing to provide multi-mission capability safely, reliably, and effectively.

LifeFlight Signing FINAL.JPG

Blakeley Thress

Commercial Business, The Americas
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About Bell

Thinking above and beyond is what we do. For more than 85 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 advanced air mobility.

Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas – as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., – we have strategic locations around the globe. And with nearly one quarter of our workforce having served, helping our military achieve their missions is a passion of ours.

Above all, our breakthrough innovations deliver exceptional experiences to our customers. Efficiently. Reliably. And always, with safety at the forefront.

About Textron

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, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, and Textron Systems. For more information, visit: www.textron.com.

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, changes in aircraft delivery schedules or cancellations or deferrals of orders; our ability to keep pace with our competitors in the introduction of new products and upgrades with features and technologies desired by our customers; changes in government regulations or policies on the export and import of our products; volatility in the global economy or changes in worldwide political conditions that adversely impact demand for our products; volatility in interest rates or foreign exchange rates; and risks related to our international business, including establishing and maintaining facilities in locations around the world and relying on joint venture partners, subcontractors, suppliers, representatives, consultants and other business partners in connection with international business, including in emerging market countries.

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