Rotortrade completes Bell 429 transaction, supporting EMS operations in the USA

Rotortrade has completed the acquisition and resale of a Bell 429 to Mercy Flight, supporting the operator’s emergency medical services (EMS) expansion in the USA.

The 2013 aircraft was previously used in Montana for private transport missions, operating between Bozeman Airport and the Yellowstone Club area. It has now been transitioned into an EMS role and will undergo a full medical configuration at Summit Helicopters in Virginia before entering service in the Buffalo, New York, region. Entry into operation is expected after an approximately six-month completion program.

As part of the handover process, Rotortrade and Mercy Flight representatives conducted a joint pre-purchase inspection in Bozeman to assess the helicopter’s condition. The aircraft was then ferried to Rotortrade’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 145-certified maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, where it underwent inspection and technical preparation ahead of delivery.

Paul Desagneaux, Sales Manager at Rotortrade, said: “This transaction highlights the value of having both sales and MRO capabilities integrated within the same organization, allowing us to manage the aircraft efficiently and keep the project moving without delay. We acquired and held the aircraft while Mercy Flight finalized its financing, bridging the gap between purchase and resale timelines.”

The transaction underscores Rotortrade’s growing presence in the EMS sector, where demand continues for immediately available twin-engine aircraft across North America.