The Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard

“We are proud to contribute to the accessibility, sustainability, and security of our Canadian waters. Through our proven expertise and a well-established Canadian support network, Bell continues to serve citizens around the world. Our global workforce and Canadian industrial base celebrates together with the Canadian Coast Guard,  and Bell 429 operators across the globe. With this aircraft, CCG is now the largest Bell 429 operator.”

Steeve Lavoie, president, Bell Textron Canada

“Through the Canadian Coast Guard’s Fleet Renewal Plan, we’re ensuring our members have the best available equipment with which to do their jobs. The Coast Guard’s fleet of Bell 412 and 429 helicopters and the pilots play an important role in ensuring that Coast Guard services are available to Canadians wherever they may be.”

Mario Pelletier, Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard

Quick Facts

• Coast Guard helicopters take part in a wide variety of operations such as monitoring oil spills and ice conditions. Helicopters are also used to maintain and construct navigational aids and telecommunications equipment, transferring personnel and cargo between ship and shore, as well as to provide support to scientific missions.
• The Bell 429 was developed by Bell working closely with Federal and Provincial governments and was developed, built, tested and certified in Canada by Canadians.
• In 2014-2015, Bell and Bell Textron Canada were awarded contracts by the Government of Canada to deliver a fleet of 23 state-of-the-art helicopters to the Canadian Coast Guard. The value of the contract is over $338 million dollars.
• Every year, the Canadian Coast Guard’s 16 Bell 429 helicopters fly for over 5500 hours. Globally, the Bell 429 has thus far achieved 523,000 operating hours.

Associated Links

For more information:

Olivia McMackin                     

Press Secretary - Office of the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard - 343-571-9193 - Olivia.McMackin@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Patricia Bergeron

Manager, Communications, Bell Textron Canada Ltd - 514-242-4213 - pbergeron@bellflight.com

Media Relations

Fisheries and Oceans Canada - 613-990-7537 - Media.xncr@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

• Follow Fisheries and Oceans Canada on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
• Follow the Canadian Coast Guard on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Certain statements in this press release may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them. 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.