NYPD Moving To an All-Bell Helicopter Fleet

The New York Police Department (NYPD) placed an order late last week for four Bell 429 light twins to replace the four AgustaWestland AW119 singles that it has flown since 2004. As of 2012, the department’s AW119 fleet had amassed 20,000 hours. The NYPD already operates three Bell 412EPs in various special missions, including counter-terrorism. Deliveries of the four new Bell 429s are expected to be completed next year. The NYPD air unit was founded in 1948 with one Bell 47.