GMR Orders Seven Bell 429 Helicopters

Global Medical Response has ordered seven Bell 429 helicopters to expand its U.S. air ambulance fleet.

The purchase agreement, announced on September 17, 2025, names seven firm Bell 429s with options for eight additional airframes as Global Medical Response (GMR) beefs up rotary-wing emergency medical services across the United States.

GMR, already the largest Bell helicopter operator in the U.S., will deploy the helicopters across its nationwide network of 381 bases to improve coverage and mission availability for critical patient transfers and scene responses.

The Bell 429 is a light twin-engine helicopter built by Bell Textron; operators prize it for a roomy cabin and civil-certified twin-engine safety benefits that suit demanding emergency medical services (EMS) missions.

Why the Bell 429?

For EMS operators, the Bell 429 strikes a balance between cabin space, maintainability, and the redundancy a twin-engine platform provides. Those characteristics make the Bell 429 a logical choice for GMR as it looks to standardize and modernize its fleet while supporting crews and patients across diverse mission profiles.

Bell 429 — seven firm orders, with options for eight more.
Deal announced: September 17, 2025.
Planned support and operations across 381 GMR bases nationwide in the U.S.

GMR’s order signals continued investment in air ambulance capacity at a time when many operators are balancing lifecycle costs, crew safety, and patient-care needs. The company has not published a detailed delivery schedule in the announcement, but the move underscores steady demand for proven rotary-wing platforms in U.S. emergency medical services.