US utility and firefighting rotary operator Helicopter Express has completed its first installation of the Foresight MX HUMS solution on its new Bell 429. The company has now placed a follow-on order of Foresight MX for its new Bell 412EPX.

"We've been following GPMS and its progress with Foresight MX since it started and we're excited to start using it," says COO Richie Kittrell. "We've heard very positive comments from other GPMS operators. With its advanced technology, customer support and the ability to grow with its customers, we know GPMS is the best HUMS provider to meet our needs."

Helicopter Express first took to the air in 1995 when it secured its first government contract with the US Forest Service (USFS). Since then, it has significantly grown its fleet and incorporated new technologies to meet the changing contracting environment. As the winner of the USFS's latest multiple award task order contract, Helicopter Express is bringing 'modern helicopters', a definition that includes HUMS as a minimum requirement, to serve communities throughout the United States.

Kittrell continues: "We're honoured to support the USFS and are excited to use our new capabilities to support its fire operations. We have a very experienced team to accomplish the missions, and we're very proud of the safety, security and quality standards we use to execute them. We're taking those to the next level with Foresight MX. Now, we'll have remote visibility of the health of our various models of deployed aircraft on one easy-to-use dashboard, even on our phones. This will assist us in planning our maintenance and flight operations, reduce our AOGs and even help us with recruiting."

"We're thrilled to be supporting Helicopter Express," adds GPMS vice president of marketing Ronnie Ries. "Its team, diversified fleet and the culture it has developed are among the best in the industry. When it makes big decisions, others follow. Equipping its team with modern helicopters monitored by Foresight MX HUMS is just another way it is demonstrating its leadership position in the utility market."