The New South Wales Police Force (NSWPF) Aviation Command's newest high-tech helicopters have been launched at a commissioning ceremony in Sydney. The three Bell 429 helicopters – PolAir 1, 3 and 4 – will be used to support the Australian police force with patrols, SAR, surveillance and specialist operations across the state.

The rotorcraft carry the latest technology in airborne law enforcement, including a Trakka beam, FLIR HDc 380 camera system, advanced mapping systems, tactical radios and a rescue hoist winch. The equipment enhances the helicopter's capabilities and allows a greater response to any job, at any time, be it search and rescue or surveillance, whereas previously a change of aircraft may have been needed. The helicopters are also fitted with twin engines, making them faster, more comfortable and safer to fly than some of their predecessors.

The helicopters were funded by the $50 million Future Light Helicopter Program.

The NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and the Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott joined NSWPF commissioner Mick Fuller and aviation commander superintendent Brad Monk at the Aviation Command facility to unveil the new aircraft.

Commissioner Fuller says each helicopter has been purpose-built to policing specifications: “The Bell 429 helicopters have been specifically designed and fitted with the best technology available to carry out search and rescue operations, conduct aerial patrols and surveillance operations,” he comments. “Each one has been customised with the most sophisticated equipment, including a FLIR camera system, advanced mapping systems, tactical radio and rescue hoist winch. We know that these aviation resources are a vital component to our policing responses, and I am confident that PolAir 1, 3 and 4 will play a critical role in our future operations.”Aviation Commander Superintendent Brad Monk said the Bell 429s are a welcomed boost to policing across the state. “These new choppers take us forward and put us at the forefront of airborne law enforcement,” superintendent Monk adds. “The upgraded technology means we can better support Police Area Commands and Police Districts in fighting crime from the air, and making the community safer. By now using only two types of helicopters (the Bell 429 and Bell 412), we've standardised the fleet making it more cost-efficient to operate and easier to maintain.”

The Bell 429 aircraft were assembled in Canada in 2020, before being delivered to the Aviation Command's airbase in Bankstown, Sydney this year. The aircraft will be maintained by the command's full-time crew of engineers on-site in the Aviation Command's fully equipped, purpose-built airbase in Bankstown.

The helicopters will replace the NSW Police Force's ageing fleet of helicopters, including AS350 single-engine Squirrel, AS355 twin-engine Squirrel, which have both been operational since the 1990s, as well as a twin-engine EC135 that has been operational since 2012.

Its updated fleet now consists of five helicopters (four B429s and a B412) and three fixed-wing Cessna Caravans.

The NSWPF fleet services the state across an area of approximately 800,000 sq km, in major land and sea operations, emergency rescues, major incident response, surveillance and reconnaissance, tactical operations, and counter terrorism and organised crime operations/investigations, supporting NSWPF officers and the people of NSW.

Jet Aviation Australia has now announced the successful delivery of three Bell 429 aircraft for the NSWPF. The aircraft are part of the NSWPF's new fleet of future light helicopters commissioned in 2019.

In partnership with Bell, Jet Aviation's design engineering team in Australia completed the integration and commissioning of the mission system for the latest three Bell 429 additions to the NSWPF fleet. All three aircraft were fitted with the latest technology and advanced integration systems, including FLIR 380HDc cameras for which Jet Aviation is the regional representative in Australia. The three new Bell 429 aircraft will be used to support the New South Wales Police Force as part of the patrols, search and rescue, surveillance, and specialist operations across the state.

“We were honoured to win the tender in 2019 and excited to meet the challenging delivery schedule,” says Mathew Hardy, general manager of helicopter sales and support for Jet Aviation Australia. “I am incredibly proud of the team for successfully completing the modifications and delivering the aircraft on time, despite the additional challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. This achievement is a credit to the team and really speaks to the breadth of their skills and capabilities.”