“We are thrilled that the Peoria Police and Fire Department have chosen Bell to lead the creation of their aviation unit,” said Lane Evans, managing director for North America. “The Bell 505 is a dynamic aircraft that has proven its success in being the ultimate public safety enhancement for law enforcement units worldwide.”

The Bell 505 will play a critical role in providing aerial support for both firefighting and law enforcement missions, serving the 195,000 residents of Peoria, Arizona, as well as neighboring West Valley cities. With this addition, the Peoria Aviation Unit aims to dramatically improve emergency response times and expand its capabilities in search and rescue, firefighting, and other public safety operations.

Peoria Mayor Jason Beck emphasized the importance of this new resource: “The City of Peoria covers 180 square miles, with an overall planning area of 233 square miles, which is a lot of ground to cover for our public safety teams. The Bell 505 aircraft is the perfect tool that will get our first responders on scene more quickly and ultimately save lives. We could not be more pleased with the end product and the support provided to us from the design process to launch.”

The Bell 505 is well-suited for public safety missions, equipped with a Safran Arrius 2R engine, dual-channel FADEC, and a Garmin G1000H NXi avionics suite. Its design also includes wide panoramic windows, an open cabin, and Synthetic Vision technology, making it a versatile and effective choice for emergency response teams.

In addition to the purchase, the Peoria Police and Fire Department benefited from Bell’s police aviation startup consultation service. This unique offering provides public safety units with expert guidance from Bell’s team, ensuring a smooth and effective launch of their aviation unit.

For more information on the Bell 505 and its role in advancing public safety missions, visit the Bell product page or check out the Bell booth (#100) at APSCON 2024.