Bell407

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department is planning to sign a deal with Textron’s subsidiary Bell Helicopter to buy a Bell 407GX.

The new rotorcraft will complement the agency’s existing three Bell helicopters in operation, including two Bell 205 A1++ and one Bell 407.

It will be deployed for para-public missions, including search and rescue, fire suppression, and law enforcement air support to public safety agencies throughout the county.

Bell Helicopter North America sales managing director Anthony Moreland said: "We have seen a great response to the Bell 407 GX in the law enforcement segment, and the aircraft offers pilots increased situational awareness thanks to high-visibility and a digital cockpit that reduces workload."

"The aircraft offers pilots increased situational awareness thanks to high-visibility and a digital cockpit that reduces workload."

With a capacity to accommodate six passengers, the Bell 407GX features fully-integrated Garmin G1000H flight deck with high-resolution LCD screens that host primary flight and multi-function display information.

The helicopter also has a tail rotor camera, which gives the pilot clear views of the tail during take-offs and landings.

The proposed contract comes after Henan Yongxiang General Aviation agreed to purchase two new Bell 407GXs, earlier this month.

Last week, Bell Helicopter unveiled an autopilot kit designed to integrate with the Garmin G1000H avionics suite in the 407GX rotorcraft.

The kit has two-axis functionality with cyclic force trim and a stability and command augmentation system (SCAS), and can be commanded to maintain either heading and altitude or navigation course and altitude.

Image: Bell 407GX is a version of the 407 that features the new Garmin G1000 H-model glass cockpit. Photo: courtesy of User:Wiki-observer.

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