With the addition of three Bell 429s, the Queensland Police Service (QPS) will be operating six Bell aircraft, making it Australia’s largest Bell law enforcement fleet.
Bell Textron, announced Toll Aviation, with the Government of South Australia, has signed a purchase agreement for two Bell 429s to support the South Australia Police (SAPOL) aerial capability.
SAPOL has selected a mixed fleet of helicopters and airplanes to meet their comprehensive capability and service requirements, with the Bell 429 expected to be a high-readiness aircraft that supports Airborne Law Enforcement (ALE), tactical response, search and rescue, disaster management, and operational transport missions. The aircraft will be on standby 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, operated by Toll Aviation pilots and SAPOL tactical flight officers. Toll Aviation is no stranger, however, to Bell aircraft as they fly the Bell 412 on a contract supporting crash response.
At the Avalon Australian International Airshow, the Queensland Police Service (QPS) has entered into a second service provision contract for QPS POLAIR services for three additional Bell 429s, which will expand the number of Bell helicopters in its current fleet to six.
In 2022, contract provider Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) signed for three Bell 429s, operating the QPS POLAIR fleet responsible for patrolling and supporting on-ground policing efforts in southeast Queensland.
The new batch of Bell 429s is part of a POLAIR service provision contract between QPS and Townsville-based Meridian Helicopters to provide a similar airborne law enforcement capability in north Queensland for the next 10 years.
