Texas-based non-profit medical transport company CareFlite has signed an agreement to purchase a Bell 407GXi aircraft outfitted with an IFR configuration kit and Garmin G1000H NXi flight deck.

“Bell has been a part of CareFlite's mission of 'Making Precious Minutes Count' since 1979,” says interim CEO and COO Kevin Reynolds. “For more than 40 years, CareFlite has utilised Bell aircraft to complete life-saving operations to patients in north and central Texas, and we are proud to expand our current fleet capabilities with the new Bell 407GXi.”

CareFlite will be the first HAA operator using Bell's 407GXi IFR kit in north and central Texas. The company currently has two Bell 429s in its helicopter air ambulance (HAA) fleet, and also operates five Bell 407s that provide critical care transportation to those in need. Its fleet is used for emergency transports in Texas and Oklahoma, and long haul patient transfers throughout the region.

“With CareFlite's new Bell 407GXi and the two IFR certified Bell 429s currently in its fleet, CareFlite will continue to facilitate around the clock critical care to patients across north and central Texas,” says Bell managing director, North America Lane Evans. “Bell is proud to continue to support and provide the CareFlite team with ready and reliable aircraft.”

Established in 1979 with one helicopter shared between two hospitals, CareFlite now operates seven helicopter bases at Texas Health Fort Worth Hospital; Methodist Dallas Medical Center; North Texas Medical Center Gainesville; McKinney National airport, Whitney; Granbury Municipal airport; and Burnet Municipal airport. Over one million patients have been safely transported by air and ground since its inception. CareFlite also offers hospital team specialty flights including balloon pump, ECMO, Impella, HROB (high risk OB) and neonatal transport.