On November 10, Travis County commissioners authorized a contract worth as much as $67.8 million to purchase three new rescue helicopters for the county’s STAR Flight program. The agreement with Bell Textron covers three Subaru Bell 412EPX aircraft, with an option for a fourth unit. The first helicopter is slated for delivery by the end of 2027, with the remaining two to follow at roughly 60‑day intervals.
Why the upgrade matters
STAR Flight provides critical air‑ambulance service, search‑and‑rescue, hoist rescue, aerial firefighting and law‑enforcement support throughout Travis County. As Travis County executive for emergency services Charles Brotherton explained, no other public program in the region offers this full suite of capabilities.
The program currently operates three helicopters, but only two are reliably available for missions. Existing Leonardo AW169 helicopters are operational about 75 % of the time, according to Craig Hilzendager, the county director of aviation operations for STAR Flight. Parts for the AW169s often arrive from Europe after long delays, forcing the fleet to use a third aircraft as a parts donor.
Cost and financing
Each Bell 412EPX helicopter costs roughly $21.8 million to $21.9 million. An additional $2.3 million is allocated for spare parts, tools and customization, bringing the total contract value to $67.8 million. The county had originally earmarked $60 million in debt to be issued in spring 2027; commissioners added about $7.8 million to that debt to cover the new purchase, according to Michelle Surka, assistant budget director for the Planning and Budget Office.
Maintenance of the existing fleet runs about $2.5 million annually under extended‑warranty programs. Without those programs, maintenance costs would have exceeded $10 million in fiscal 2025, Hilzendager noted.
Next steps
Once the new helicopters are operational, the county plans to hire a broker to sell the aging AW169 fleet. Money from that sale is not included in the $67.8 million contract figure. The sale follows a similar process in 2019 when the county disposed of its EC145 helicopters.
County officials emphasized that the contract price could decrease once equipment specifications are finalized, but it will not increase beyond the agreed amount. Operating costs for the new aircraft are excluded from the contract and will be funded separately.
Impact on the community
The acquisition is expected to improve response times and increase the reliability of life‑saving air‑rescue missions across Travis County. By maintaining two fully operational helicopters at all times, STAR Flight can better serve residents in medical emergencies, wildfire incidents and law‑enforcement operations, reinforcing the county’s commitment to public safety and emergency preparedness.
Original reporting: Community Impact — Austin — read the source article.
