At this year’s Airborne Law Enforcement Association exposition in Phoenix, Ariz., Bell Helicopter brought a brand new Bell 429 to mark the signing of a purchase agreement for the aircraft from Georgia State Patrol. Sergeant Greg Mercier of the Georgia State Patrol represented the unit at an official signing ceremony at the show. The unit’s new 429 will join the Georgia State Patrol Aviation Division’s existing fleet of six Bell 407s, one Bell 206, five Bell OH-58s and one Cessna 182 aircraft.
“This is the continuation of a great relationship,” Anthony Moreland, Bell Helicopter managing director, North America said at the signing ceremony for the new aircraft. “We’re very proud that the great State of Georgia has picked us again.”
The new Bell 429 will be used for law enforcement applications such as surveillance, search and rescue, and support of ground personnel.
In the above video, Moreland tells Vertical about the modifications that will be completed on this aircraft prior to delivery, and explains why the Bell 429 is well suited for airborne law enforcement missions.
