Chicago Police Department receives two new helicopters
Bell Textron has announced the delivery of two Bell 407GXis to the Chicago Police Department (CPD), in the US state of Illinois
The new rotorcraft will expand CPD’s aerial reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities, operating alongside the Department’s existing Bell 429.
The 407GXis are equipped with instrument flight rules (IFR) capabilities, as well as capacity for up to five people. They also come equipped with cargo hooks capable of holding up to 3,100lb (1,406kg) of public safety equipment.
“This new fleet marked a new era for our helicopter unit,” said CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling. “These helicopters are our eyes in the sky, allowing us to address crime in a safer and more efficient manner.”
Bell Textron previously received an order for a Bell 505 helicopter from Japan’s Aichi Prefectural Police in mid-2024.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor at AirMed&Rescue. 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.