Aichi Prefectural Police Selects 1st Bell 505 Helicopter in Asia Pacific for Law Enforcement Operations

Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced that the Aichi Prefectural Police in Japan has placed an order for the Bell 505 helicopter for airborne law enforcement. When delivered, Aichi Prefecture will be the first in Asia Pacific to operate the Bell 505 for police work.

“This marks a new chapter for the Bell 505 in law enforcement missions in the region. While a single-engine aircraft, the efficiency and utility of the Bell 505 cannot be understated for parapublic and law enforcement roles. It enhances an agency's response capabilities in any situation or environment,” said Takuya Masamura, country manager, Japan, Bell. “We look forward to the smooth delivery of the Bell 505s to the Aichi Prefectural Police.”

Since its introduction in 2017, there are over a hundred Bell 505s flying in Asia Pacific and Bell has delivered more than 505 Bell 505s worldwide that have clocked more than 100,000 global flight hours.

The Bell 505 has gained increasing popularity among law enforcement agencies in recent years. Several U.S. law enforcement organizations, such as the Fort Worth Police Department, Omaha Police Department, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Division of Law Enforcement, and Nebraska State Patrol now employ the Bell 505 in their fleets. Its integrated avionics and dual channel FADEC controlled engine provide pilots enhanced situational awareness and reduced workload, allowing for effective operations in diverse conditions.