Last week at the Avalon Australian International Airshow, Bell Textron and Queensland Police Service (QPS) signed a service provision contract to add three Bell 429s to the QPS Polair fleet, which will bring the total to six 429s. The Polair fleet’s first three 429s are operated by Surf Life Saving Queensland, which patrols and supports on-ground policing efforts in southeast Queensland.
According to Bell, “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.”
The new 429s will be equipped with night vision capability and cameras to help the QPS officers track vehicles, apprehend offenders, and locate missing persons. Available law enforcement-specific features include infrared camera, searchlight, removable and sliding doors, wire strike protection system, optional auxiliary fuel tank, fast rope insertion/extraction system, and an equipment operator station with one or two advanced tactical displays.
Bell also announced that the South Australian government is purchasing two Bell 429s for the South Australia Police (Sapol). On Oct. 1, 2027, Sapol will begin operating the 429s, becoming the country’s third law enforcement agency to add this model. Toll Aviation pilots and Sapol tactical flight officers will operate the 429s, which will support airborne law enforcement, tactical response, search-and-rescue, disaster management, and operational transport missions.
At the Avalon show, Bell also celebrated operators’ key milestones. Nautilus Aviation’s Bell 407GXi fleet doubled the number of flight hours logged in less than 12 months, reaching more than 6,300. The company operates five 407GXIs in parapublic and tourism operations in Northern Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef region. Kestrel Aviation celebrated its 40th anniversary and operates the largest Bell medium-twin fleet in Australia, primarily for firefighting activities. Kestrel’s fleet includes the Bell 206L3, 407, 212, and 412 and operates from a purpose-built helicopter airfield in Mangalore in central Victoria.