Bell signed purchase agreements for seven 407GXi, two for corporate customers in the United Kingdom, one in Ireland for Zeus Essential Holding Limited, and four for the Polish National Police. The contracts were announced during the HAI 2023 Expo being held in Atlanta.
The Bell 407GXi is equipped with the Rolls-Royce M250-C47E/4 turbine engine, which features dual-channel full electronic management (FADEC). This allows great performance in hot & high conditions, great fuel efficiency, and allows the aircraft to fly at a cruise speed of 133 kts. The flight deck features Garmin’s G1000H NXi instrumentation, high-resolution displays, and faster electronics. Thus, it offers greater brightness and clarity, faster startup and map display, and allows connection to mobile devices. The 407 family has accumulated over six million flight hours across 1,590 units on six continents, 109 of them in Europe.
The Bell 407GXi expands its presence in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
«2022 was a success for us in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The Bell 407GXi continues to be the aircraft of choice for corporate and VIP transport around the world as it combines comfort, speed, and safety,» said Patrick Moulay, Bell’s Senior Vice President of International Commercial Sales.
Zeus operates in more than 30 countries and provides sustainable packaging solutions to customers in various industries. Brian O’Sullivan, its owner, noted, «As an international business owner, I frequently travel between our European and North American locations. The Bell 407GXi will allow me to manage my business needs quickly.»
Four units for the Polish National Police
The Polish National Police (PNP) acquired four 407GXi units as part of the «safer on the roads – aerial supervision over the road traffic» project, implemented with EU funds. The four aircraft will join three others of the same type that were delivered to the PNP in October 2020. These seven helicopters make the PNP the largest user of the model among European public institutions. In addition, the institution operates two 206s and a 412HP.
Dariusz Augustyniak, the deputy chief commissioner of the Polish National Police, pointed out that «in recent years we have focused strongly on improving road safety and, to achieve this, we are strengthening our technical potential. That is why we want to use these four helicopters primarily to improve safety on Polish roads. Ultimately, we want each of them to be equipped with aerial observation systems.»
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On the PNP’s decision, Moulay argued, «Increasing their fleet of 407GXis is a testament to what we are capable of delivering. We recognize the importance of minimizing downtime, which is why we work hard to ensure excellent parts availability and technical support for our customers.»
As the others, these new Bell 407GXis will come equipped with the Trakka Systems Total Solution Package. This package features a searchlight, camera, and moving map, as well as ground links. The system allows the crew to detect, identify and track vehicles and estimate their speed.
