Bell Textron to deliver 505 to Aichi Prefecture
The manufacturer has received an order for a Bell 505 helicopter from Japan’s Aichi Prefectural Police
The contract was announced on 25 July at this year’s Farnborough International Airshow.
Bell stated that when delivered, the rotorcraft will be the first of its type to be used for police work in the Asia-Pacific region.
“This marks a new chapter for the Bell 505 in law enforcement missions in the region,” said Takuya Masamura, Country Manager – Japan at Bell Textron. “While a single-engine aircraft, the efficiency and utility of the Bell 505 cannot be overerstated for parapublic and law enforcement roles. It enhances an agency’s response capabilities in any situation or environment.”
The Bell 505 has gained popularity with law enforcement agencies in recent years, particularly in the USA, where several organizations have adopted it. This includes police departments in Fort Worth, Texas; Omaha, Nebraska; and Los Angeles, California.
Bell recently completed a promotional tour of Mexico with the aircraft, where it is also looking to drum up interest in the helicopter type for parapublic operations.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca was a Junior Editor at the Voyageur Group. He was previously a News and Features Journalist for the rail magazine IRJ until 2021, and studied MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. His favourite helicopter is the AW169 – the workhorse of the UK air ambulance sector! He also led the creation of Waypoint: The AirMed&Rescue podcast, serving as its Production Editor and co-host.