Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, announced today that it has secured an agreement with the  Delaware State Police for the supply of two Bell 429 aircraft. The multi-mission configured Bell 429s will be utilized for both airborne law enforcement operations and helicopter emergency medical services.

“For the mission and operations for the Delaware State Police, we evaluated all helicopter options in the light-twin category, as well as multiple medium-twin options. After careful consideration, the selection team chose the Bell 429 as the best combination of speed, power, performance and working volume to meet our mission needs,” said Colonel Nathaniel McQueen, Jr., Delaware State Police superintendent.

The new Bell 429s, configured to perform airborne law enforcement missions, including patrol, surveillance and search and rescue, as well as emergency medical services (EMS), are scheduled to be delivered in early 2014. The Delaware State Police, seeking one platform capable of performing a variety of tasks, selected the 429 as the best solution to meet their multi-mission requirements. The 429 sets the standard for police and EMS operations with its generous cabin volume, hoist and single-engine fly away capability, and smooth, quiet ride.

“We are honored with the Delaware State Police’s endorsement of the Bell 429 for their police and EMS operations,” said Danny Maldonado, Bell Helicopter’s executive vice president of Sales and Marketing. “We are thankful for the opportunity to continue providing this organization with the reliable and versatile products their missions demand, as well as the quality customer support they require to save lives and protect their state.”

The two aircraft will join the Delaware State Police Aviation Unit, consisting of 25 pilots and medics providing 24 hour coverage from two locations, Georgetown and Middletown. Each year, the unit averages 2,000 missions, transports approximately 300 trauma patients and flies nearly 1,500 hours. In addition to the new Bell 429s, the Aviation Unit operates four helicopters – three Bell 407s and a Bell 412, as well as a fixed-wing Cessna 182.

The Delaware State Police Aviation Unit’s mission is to provide rapid transport of critically ill or injured patients to medical facilities and to support law enforcement ground personnel in the apprehension of criminal suspects. The unit conducts a variety of other missions, including, airborne security for visiting dignitaries, homeland security operations, photographic missions, narcotics interdiction, pursuit support and maritime security.

The Bell 429 is the world’s newest and most advanced light twin-engine helicopter. It has conducted extensive flight demonstrations in every continent, except Antarctica, and has been certified in more than 40 countries. With configuration options ranging from VIP to air-medical, law enforcement, utility and oil & gas, the Bell 429 offers superior mission capability and adaptability.

Bell Helicopters press release