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.

“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,” says executive director Tom Klassen. “Bell provides us with safe, quality and reliable aircraft that help us be the connection between a patient and the treatment they need.”

Doug Schoen, Bell MD for North America, adds: “We are excited to announce that HALO-Flight has added the first Bell 407GXi HEMS operator with IFR flight capabilities to its fleet. This will give our customer more of an advantage in the air during tough weather conditions. We are proud to support HALO-Flight and the important missions it flies. We look forward to working together for many years.”

HALO-Flight, a non-profit charitable organisation, began air ambulance 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 centres outside the Coastal Bend. The company already operates three Bell 407s and a Bell 429 for air ambulance services.

The Bell 407GXi IFR is designed to 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.

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 adding Helifab's articulated EMS litter installation which provides litter restraint for transportation of ambulatory person and articulates to either a 45 or 90 degree loading position. It is certified for taxi, take-off and landing with backrest inclined 30 degrees, a Lexan patient/pilot guard, aft radio audio panel mount and cargo track equipment mount provisions.