Aviation News – July 17, 2025 – Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. company, announced at APSCON 2025 that the Columbus Division of Police has ordered two Bell 505 helicopters to enhance its aerial public safety operations. Serving nearly two million residents in the Columbus Metropolitan Area, the new aircraft will boost the department’s patrol, surveillance, and search capabilities.
“The Bell 505 offers modern technology and multi-mission versatility ideal for public safety,” said Lane Evans, managing director, North America, Bell. “Columbus Police will benefit from higher efficiency and advanced camera systems.”
The aircraft features the Safran Arrius 2R engine with dual-channel FADEC, Garmin G1000H NXi avionics, panoramic visibility, and Synthetic Vision, making it one of the most advanced platforms in its class.
Pilot training is scheduled at Bell’s Fort Worth, TX academy in the coming months, marking a significant step in the department’s aviation modernization.
Image Bell Helicopters
