California's Pasadena Police Department has signed for two Bell 505 helicopters for public safety ops.

“This investment in our new Bell 505s represent a major step forward in how the Pasadena Police Department serves and protects our community,” says Pasadena Police Chief Gene Harris. “These aircraft give our Air Operations Section the enhanced capabilities needed to support officers on the ground, improve response times and provide critical aerial support.”

“As a long-time Bell customer, we are thrilled the Pasadena Police Department has chosen the Bell 505 as the product of choice to demonstrate its mission capabilities,” adds Lane Evans, managing director, North America commercial sales, Bell. “The Bell 505 provides our customers and operators versatility in mission performance and enhanced technical capabilities. This is another example of the strong demand we are seeing across the globe for this aircraft.”

The Pasadena Police Department Air Operations Section provides air support to Pasadena, California and numerous other cities throughout the San Gabriel Valley. The newly purchased Bell 505s will join the department's Bell 206Bs that are already in operation.

CNC Technologies is serving as the prime contractor for the programme, leading the overall mission suite design and support. The mission suite includes Wescam MX-10 electro-optical/infrared imaging systems, tactical mapping capability, NVG-compatible cockpit upgrades, high-intensity searchlight capability and resilient real-time video transmission, delivering a mission-ready capability aligned with the department's operational needs.

“CNC Technologies is proud to serve as the prime contractor for the Pasadena Police Department's Bell 505 programme,” notes Alex Giuffrida, managing partner, CNC Technologies. “Our team is delivering a mission-ready capability with long-term support.”

“This programme strengthens our department's ability to keep Pasadena safe today and well into the future,” Pasadena Police Chief Gene Harris continues.

The Bell 505 was introduced in 2014 and certified by the FAA in 2017. There are now more than 600 Bell 505s operating in more than 66 countries on six continents, surpassing 300,000 total fleet flight hours. With a speed of 125 kts and a useful load of 1,500 pounds, the Bell 505 is designed to be easy to fly while providing significant value to the operator and best-in-class cabin visibility. The customer-driven design of the aircraft places safety, performance and affordability at the forefront, blending proven systems with advanced technology and a sleek, modern design.

“With this award, Pasadena continues to demonstrate leadership in public-safety aviation and interagency coordination,” concludes Ron Magocsi, chief technology officer at CNC Technologies. “CNC is proud to partner with the City, Bell and L3Harris to deliver a programme built around real-world service, training and operational support.”