Bell Helicopter to provide Canadian Coast Guard with seven new Bell 421EPI helicopters.

“The selection of the Bell 412EPI will help improve the CCG’s support capability to ensure the safety, security and environmental protection services to the fishing industry and all mariners,” said Minister Lebel. “The CCG operates in some of the harshest flying conditions on the planet, so the performance capabilities of the aircraft are exactly what they need to support their operations.”

The contract has a value of approximately CAN $155 million and was awarded to Bell Helicopter within the context of the Canadian Coast Guard’s Fleet Renewal Plan. The first aircraft is expected to be delivered in June 2016, with one helicopter expected to be delivered every three months thereafter. This contract for Bell 412’s follows a CCG contract announced in May 2014 for 15 Bell 429 helicopters. Bell Helicopter delivered the first of the 15 Bell 429’s in late March.

"We have enjoyed a long-standing relationship with the Canadian Coast Guard, and have been proud to support the Bell 206 and Bell 212 aircraft in their current fleet,” said Raymond Leduc, president of Bell Helicopter Textron Canada. “The Bell 412EPI will continue to not only support their current efforts, but provide them with the expanded capabilities, safety and flexibility to serve the people of Canada.”

CCG will utilize the flexibility of the Bell 412EPI to support the non-military activities of multiple government departments and agencies, including the Department of National Defense, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Environment Canada. The aircraft will operate in all areas of Canada, including both coastal regions, inland waters such as the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway, and Canada’s expansive Arctic areas.

“When operating in locations with extreme environments, the Bell 412EPI is the workhorse that will support these missions with superior performance,” added Mr. Leduc.

The contract was negotiated by PWGSC on behalf of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

First introduced in March 2013, the Bell 412EPI improves the Bell 412EP platform with the Bell BasiX Pro™ fully integrated glass flight deck, providing critical flight information at a glance for greater situational awareness and safety. The Bell BasiX Pro™ system is specifically designed to meet the requirements of twin-engine helicopters and is optimized for IFR, Category A and JAR OPS3 compliant operations. The avionics suite also includes high resolution digital maps, electronic charts and approach plates, ADS-B transponder and optional HTAWS and XM satellite links. The new Bell 412EPI also incorporates the power of Pratt and Whitney's PT6T-9 Twin Pac® engines, providing 15 percent more horsepower than the standard Bell 412. The Bell 412EPI features the BLR Strake and FastFin® system, which modifies the tailboom to optimize airflow and improve handling, safety and lift.