Bell Helicopter Continues to Shine in HEMS Market

Bell Helicopter Continues to Shine in HEMS Market

DFW CareFlite purchases second Bell 429 for its Emergency Medical Services

AMTC Long Beach, CA (October 19, 2015) – Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today a purchase agreement with CareFlite for its second Bell 429. CareFlite, a nonprofit 501(c) (3) corporation based in Dallas Fort Worth, provides air and ground ambulance service from its bases across North Texas. The aircraft will be outfitted to perform Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) missions throughout the region. This sale comes on the heels of a previous order for one Bell 429 that was delivered in May and four Bell 407GXs that were purchased in 2013.

“We will continue to rely on the Bell 429 for the advanced situational awareness and performance the aircraft offers our pilots,” said James Swartz, President and CEO of CareFlite. “It is important to get our patients the care they need quickly and safely, and our fleet of Bell helicopters will help us do just that. The Bell 429 provides the space and lift needed for advanced, team transports.”

CareFlite, America’s oldest joint use air medical program (founded in 1979) is sponsored by Baylor Scott and White Health, JPS Health Network, Methodist Health System, Parkland Health and Hospital and Texas Health Resources. CareFlite provides helicopter EMS service to North Texas and Southern Oklahoma from its bases in and around the DFW Metroplex. The new Bell 429s, along with the four Bell 407GXs, will be used to further support these extensive services.

“We’ve been supporting CareFlite’s lifesaving missions since 1979 and are truly honored by their trust in our operations,” said Anthony Moreland, Bell Helicopter’s vice president of North American sales. “The safe and reliable characteristics of the Bell 429 will provide peace of mind when transporting patients.”

The Bell 429 is one of the most advanced light twin helicopters ever developed, offering a fully integrated glass cockpit with advanced drive system and best-in-class WAAS navigation and IFR capability. Its 204 cubic foot main and aft cabin gives personnel unobstructed full body access to the patient. It’s the only light twin-engine helicopter on the market that offers true two-litter capability with enough room for two medical crew members plus pilots or, three medical crew members and one pilot. With enough space left over for vital medical equipment, its innovative deck height enables one person to load a litter without straining, and the 60 inch wide side-loading opening makes loading or unloading easier. It is the first helicopter certified through the MSG-3 process, resulting in reduced maintenance costs for operators.

“The Bell 429 continues to impress our HEMS customers throughout North America, and we expect to continue to see strong growth as more and more customers see firsthand the amazing capabilities of this machine,” added Moreland.

Press Contact

LINDSEY VIOTTO

+1 817-280-3100

mediarelations@bh.com

About CareFlite 

CareFlite, a 501(c)(3) not for profit air and ground ambulance service, operates 911/EMS service, fixed wing air ambulance, helicopter EMS, wheelchair van service, ground ambulance service and a mounted team from its forty six (46) air and ground bases across North Texas. CareFlite, America’s oldest joint use air medical program is sponsored by Baylor Scott and White Health, JPS Health Network, Methodist Health System, Parkland Health and Hospital and Texas Health Resources. As of May 30, 2015, CareFlite had transported 802,468 patients since its founding in 1979 and had 295,287 Caring-Heart Members.

About Bell Helicopter

Bell Helicopter, a wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military, manned and unmanned vertical-lift aircraft and the pioneer of the revolutionary tiltrotor aircraft. Globally recognized for world-class customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell's global workforce serves customers flying Bell aircraft in more than 120 countries.

About Textron Inc.

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation + Training. For more information, visit www.textron.com.

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to changes in aircraft delivery schedules or cancellations or deferrals of orders.

About Bell

Thinking above and beyond is what we do. For more than 85 years, we’ve been reimagining the experience of flight – and where it can take us.

We are pioneers. We were the first to break the sound barrier and to certify a commercial helicopter. We were a part of NASA’s first lunar mission and brought advanced tiltrotor systems to market. Today, we’re defining the future of advanced air mobility.

Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas – as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., – we have strategic locations around the globe. And with nearly one quarter of our workforce having served, helping our military achieve their missions is a passion of ours.

Above all, our breakthrough innovations deliver exceptional experiences to our customers. Efficiently. Reliably. And always, with safety at the forefront.

About Textron

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, and Textron Systems. For more information, visit: www.textron.com.

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, changes in aircraft delivery schedules or cancellations or deferrals of orders; our ability to keep pace with our competitors in the introduction of new products and upgrades with features and technologies desired by our customers; changes in government regulations or policies on the export and import of our products; volatility in the global economy or changes in worldwide political conditions that adversely impact demand for our products; volatility in interest rates or foreign exchange rates; and risks related to our international business, including establishing and maintaining facilities in locations around the world and relying on joint venture partners, subcontractors, suppliers, representatives, consultants and other business partners in connection with international business, including in emerging market countries.