The Canadian Coast Guard has taken delivery of the final Bell 429 it acquired from Bell Textron Canada as part of its light helicopter renewal program.
The ceremony at Bell’s Mirabel facility in September this year saw the final of 23 helicopters delivered to the service. The Coast Guard ordered seven Bell 412EPI and 16 Bell 429 helicopters from Bell under a C$338 million contract from 2014.
“With this procurement, our Canadian Coast Guard’s light helicopter fleet is fully renewed. This is so important because a strong, well-equipped Coast Guard is one of the best ways to save lives on the water and protect our marine environment,” Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard, said.
Since 2014, the Canadian Coast Guard and Bell Textron Canada have had a strong relationship that has strengthened during the renewal of the Coast Guard’s fleet of light and medium helicopters, comprised of seven Bell 412EPI and 16 Bell 429 helicopters. These helicopters provide support to ships engaged in critical maritime work including Aids to navigation, environmental response, icebreaking operations, and in support of search and rescue operations.
“Our global workforce and Canadian industrial base celebrates together with the Canadian Coast Guard, and Bell 429 operators across the globe. With this aircraft, CCG is now the largest Bell 429 operator,” Steeve Lavoie, president, Bell Textron Canada, commented.
