Rotorcraft
Pilot Report: Bell 407GXi
Garmin elevates the Bell 407GXi experience
The Bell 407GXi received Transport Canada certification at the beginning of the year. (Photo: Bell)
The Bell 407GXi received Transport Canada certification at the beginning of the year. (Photo: Bell)

Standing on the right-hand side of a Bell 407GXi, I leaned in to see what—upon first glance—looked strikingly similar to Garmin's G1000H flight deck. The screens, powered off, had barely a streak on their glass, and this was my first reminder that I was indeed looking at something new. As soon as the screens came to life, it became apparent that these were more powerful Garmin displays. The new G1000H NXi integrated avionics system immediately indicated its upgraded status from its predecessors with a bright and crisp display that initialized within a few seconds.

At Bell Helicopter’s Fort Worth facility, Tim Otteson, a Bell demo pilot, walked me through the features of the Bell 407GXi and the G1000H NXi. The Garmin upgrade, along with a Rolls-Royce 250-C47E/4 Fadec turboshaft engine, sets the 407GXi apart from the previous 407GXP.

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