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Queensland Police Service selects Bell 429s for Polair Fleet

Bell Textron will supply 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.

“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,” said Jacinto Monge, managing director, Asia Pacific, Bell.

In January, the Bell 429 surpassed 500,000 global fleet hours. Today, more than 400 Bell 429 aircraft serve an array of customers. 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, among others.

In Australia, the Queensland Police Service will join the New South Wales Police as Bell 429 operators, with the latter launching operations of its three new Bell 429 helicopters last year.