Queensland Police Service Selects Three Bell 429 Helicopters for its Polair Fleet

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Fort Worth, Texas (July 12, 2022) – Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, announced the selection of three new Bell 429 helicopters for the Queensland Police Service’s POLAIR fleet. The aircraft, which will be an expected delivery of fourth quarter 2023, will be used to patrol southeast Queensland and support crime fighting efforts in the community.

The acquisition of three new Bell 429 helicopters was part of a new long-term contract that the Queensland Police Service signed with Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ), a not-for-profit Queensland organization, to operate vital POLAIR aerial capabilities through 2034. 

“The selection of the Bell 429 by the Queensland Police Service reinforces the Bell 429’s reputation as the next-generation law enforcement helicopter. The Bell 429 has proven its capability to meet the rigorous demands of police aviation units across the globe with demonstrated high availability rates and safety metrics,” said Jacinto Monge, managing director, Asia Pacific, Bell. “We look forward to working with our partners SLSQ and Jet Aviation Australia to ensure a smooth entry into service and seeing the POLAIR Bell 429s serving Queenslanders.”

In January, the Bell 429 surpassed 500,000 global fleet hours and continues to showcase its versatility throughout corporate, HEMS, law enforcement and utility missions. Today, more than 400 Bell 429 aircraft serve an array of customers, offering operators large cabins, intuitive displays and excellent performance.

The twin-engine platform is relied on by law enforcement agencies and search and rescue organizations like the Canadian Coast Guard, Indonesia National Police, New York Police Department, Royal Thai Police, Swedish National Police and many more. In Australia, the Queensland Police Service will join the New South Wales Police as Bell 429 operators, with the latter launching operations of their three new Bell 429 helicopters last year.

With an easily configurable cabin, the Bell 429 can be equipped with law enforcement mission-specific features including an infrared camera, searchlight, removeable and sliding doors, wire strike protection system, optional auxiliary fuel tank, fast rope insertion/extraction system and an equipment operator station with one or two state-of-the-art tactical displays.

Eugene Tan

Singapore | Asia-Pacific
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About Bell

Thinking above and beyond is what we do. For more than 85 years, we’ve been reimagining the experience of flight – and where it can take us.

We are pioneers. We were the first to break the sound barrier and to certify a commercial helicopter. We were a part of NASA’s first lunar mission and brought advanced tiltrotor systems to market. Today, we’re defining the future of advanced air mobility.

Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas – as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., – we have strategic locations around the globe. And with nearly one quarter of our workforce having served, helping our military achieve their missions is a passion of ours.

Above all, our breakthrough innovations deliver exceptional experiences to our customers. Efficiently. Reliably. And always, with safety at the forefront.

About Textron

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, and Textron Systems. For more information, visit: www.textron.com.

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, changes in aircraft delivery schedules or cancellations or deferrals of orders; our ability to keep pace with our competitors in the introduction of new products and upgrades with features and technologies desired by our customers; changes in government regulations or policies on the export and import of our products; volatility in the global economy or changes in worldwide political conditions that adversely impact demand for our products; volatility in interest rates or foreign exchange rates; and risks related to our international business, including establishing and maintaining facilities in locations around the world and relying on joint venture partners, subcontractors, suppliers, representatives, consultants and other business partners in connection with international business, including in emerging market countries.

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