Fort Worth, TX (March 11, 2022) – Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced the sale of five Bell 407GXi helicopters to Nautilus Aviation in Australia.   

The aircraft are scheduled to be progressively delivered from late 2022 and will be used for tourism charter and utility flights in North Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef region.

“Nautilus Aviation has been operating helicopters for more than 25 years. Based on our helicopter fleet and steadfast commitment to the safety of all passengers and personnel, we have earned and developed a reputation for quality,” said Aaron Finn, CEO, Nautilus Aviation. “The Bell 407GXi helicopter has great all-round visibility for tourism, and we appreciate Bell’s outstanding customer service. After careful consideration of our operational requirements and a commitment to further reduce our environmental footprint, I am confident these new fleet additions will enhance our reputation and position us for growth as the Australian economy continues its recovery from the pandemic.”

Nautilus Aviation is a privately owned and operated, proven helicopter specialist with over 25 years flying experience and has grown to become one of Australia’s premier helicopter operators. Nautilus operates a mixed fleet of helicopters comprising the Bell 206, 206L4, 505, 407 and 412EP. In 2018, Nautilus was the first helicopter operator in Asia Pacific to take delivery of the Bell 505.

“As Northern Australia’s largest helicopter operator, Nautilus’ selection of the Bell 407GXi demonstrates the confidence they have in the ability of the Bell 407GXi to fulfil their multiple mission requirements,” said Jacinto Monge, managing director, Asia Pacific, Bell. “We are honored that Nautilus has chosen the Bell 407GXi, and we look forward to providing the support they need for entry into service.”

Bell proves its mature production and sustainment support capability with more than 1,600 Bell 407s globally, logging 6 million flight hours across the fleet and actively performing flight training as well as military, tourism 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.