Nautilus Aviation's Bell 407GXi Helicopters Reach 3,000 Successful Flight Hours

RotorTech, Australia (June 10, 2024) – The Bell 407GXi fleet under Nautilus Aviation, one of Australia’s premier helicopter operators with more than 25 years of flying experience, has now clocked 3,000 successful flight hours.

In March 2022, Nautilus Aviation placed an order for five new Bell 407GXis to support tourism charter and utility flights in Northern Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef region. Delivery was completed in the first quarter of 2023. The aircraft were quickly deployed to assist with disaster relief efforts during the historic flooding of Northwestern Queensland in March 2023.

For nearly a month, the Nautilus team operated their Bell 407GXis tirelessly and effectively to conduct resupply missions, evacuations, long-line and cargo operations, and transport key government, emergency, and infrastructure personnel. The aircraft were equipped with cargo hooks, emergency flotation systems, and tail-mounted cameras to aid these relief operations. Additionally, this fleet has been called upon to perform search and rescue work in the Northern Territory as well.

These challenging environments thoroughly test helicopter operators. However, the Bell 407GXi’s advanced features and kits increase situational awareness and help mitigate risks. For instance, the Garmin G1000H™ NXi integrated flight deck enhances mapping capabilities, improving landmark identification accuracy. This allows flight teams to navigate with ease, expedite emergency responses, and ensures a swift reaction to critical situations. The increased cabin volume of the Bell 407GXi, facilitated by an innovative window design, also allows for more efficient utilization of space and capacity.

Globally, the Bell 407 fleet exceeds 1,600 aircraft and over 6 million total flight hours. In Oceania, Australia accounts for 20 Bell 407s while Papua New Guinea is home to approximately 25.

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Press Contact

Dariel Lim

+65 8202 3091

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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