FORT WORTH, Texas, 9 Jan. 2012. the Turkish National Police in Ankara, Turkey, needed helicopters for a variety of police work in the Middle Eastern country. They found their solution from Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE:TXT), in Fort Worth, Texas. The Turkish police is entering into final negotiations with Bell Helicopter to purchase 15 Bell 429 helicopters with an option for five additional rotorcraft.
The Bell 429 can fly at speeds as fast as 155 knots, with a range of 400 miles, and features cockpit helicopter avionics that include single pilot instrument flight rules (IFR) and Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) precision approach capabilities. The helicopter's glass cockpit comes with Bell's BasiX-Pro integrated avionics system featuring two or three multi-function displays, dual digital three-axis autopilot, and an integrated electronic data recorder for situational awareness and post flight analysis.
“The Bell 429 is well-suited to provide a rock-solid, twin-engine law enforcement platform being able to carry the necessary sensors and equipment to provide our aerial first responders the finest operational capability in the business,” says Larry Roberts, senior vice president for Bell Helicopter's Commercial Business.
The Bell 429's cabin seats as many as eight passengers and can be reconfigured for law-enforcement and many different missions, company officials say. The 429 has 61-inch side doors opening to a 130-cubic-foot cabin compartment, or 204 cubic feet when including the aft cabin area.
The helicopter has collective mounted throttles, damage tolerant hub and rotor system, and energy attenuating seats. It is certified through the MSG-3 process to reduce maintenance costs, company officials say.
The Bell 429 light twin-engine helicopter has conducted flight demonstrations in every continent, except Antarctica, and has been certified in more than 40 countries. The helicopter offers configurations ranging from VIP to air-medical, law enforcement, utility, and oil and gas.
For more information contact Bell Helicopter online at www.bellhelicopter.com, or the Turkish National Police at www.turkishnationalpolice.gov.tr.
