The Bell 407GXi fleet under Australia-based operator Nautilus Aviation has now clocked 3,000 successful flight hours.

In March 2022, Nautilus 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 through Jet Aviation, who had sold and reconfigured the helicopters. Modifications included role equipment installation, including air conditioning, emergence pop-out floats, emergency locator transmitters and cabin audio, in addition to regular aircraft reassembly from shipping. Jet Aviation also managed the issuance of the Australian certificate of airworthiness. The helicopters 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. 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 and 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 utilisation of space and capacity.