Queensland operator Nautilus Aviation has taken delivery of the last of five customised Bell 407GXi helicopters.
The aircraft were reconfigured to meet a wide range of operations, including charter, tourism, utility and support work such as flood relief efforts and firefighting.
Bell representative Jet Aviation fully customised the aircraft at their Bankstown facility, with modifications including air conditioning, emergency pop-out floats, emergency locator transmitters and cabin audio. Jet Aviation also managed the Australian Certificate of Airworthiness.
"One of our primary reasons for selecting the Bell 407 GXi Aircraft as the flagship of our fleet was the versatility of the airframe and the upgrades made to enhance both customer and pilot experiences,” said Aaron Finn CEO of Nautilus Aviation.
“The after sales support has been exceptional and we continue to work closely with Jet Aviation and Bell on specialized maintenance programs and training for our teams across all company bases.”
Ian D’Arcy, Jet Aviation vice president MRO operations Pacific and Rotary Sales, said the Nautilus Bell 407GXis were an example of the service his company offered customers.
"We pride ourselves on offering our customers a full, personalised in-house service, from sale of the aircraft to full customisation and ongoing MRO,” he said.
“The delivery of these five aircraft is the latest milestone in our decades-long relationship with Nautilus, and we are honored to remain their partner of choice for rotary sales, bespoke modification, and MRO.
"As a Bell Independent Representative and Customer Service Facility, Jet Aviation has delivered a total of 13 new Bell aircraft in Australia and New Zealand in the past year, cementing our position as one of the foremost rotary partners in the region.”
The first helicopter was delivered to Nautilus in Q4 2022, with the final aircraft delivered in Q2, 2023.