Air Methods is the U.S. launch customer for the new Bell 407GXi, placing an initial order for six of the single-engine helicopters on Tuesday at Heli-Expo 2018. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

As the world’s largest aeromedical services provider, Air Methods has operated Bell products since 1980 and they currently make up a quarter of the operator’s 476 rotorcraft nationwide. This includes the Bell 407, 429, 430, and 412. According to W.M. Gray, the Colorado-based company’s senior vice president of aviation services, the Bell 407 is the best-performing helicopter in its fleet. “It’s got the best in-service rate of any aircraft that we operate because of Bell’s support,” he told AIN.

Gray added that Air Methods expects to receive its first medevac-configured Bell 407GXis next year. He anticipates deliveries of two or three a year to complete the order.