At the Avalon Airshow this morning (25 March), Toll Aviation and the South Australia government signed a deal to secure two Bell 429s for the South Australia Police Service, making it the third of Australia’s police forces to select the type for air support operations.
Operations are scheduled to commence on 1 October 2027. The two aircraft will be employed in Airborne Law Enforcement (ALE), tactical response, search and rescue, disaster management, and operational transport missions. They will be on standby 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, operated by Toll Aviation pilots and SAPOL tactical flight officers. Toll Aviation is highly experienced in operating Bell aircraft, as it flies the Bell 412 on a contract supporting crash response.
“We are thrilled to welcome Toll Aviation and SAPOL into the ever-growing Bell family. It truly is gratifying to know that our aircraft will play a crucial role in keeping the South Australian community safe. Alongside Jet Aviation, a Bell independent representative, we are committed to continuously engaging with customers in Oceania to sustain the positive momentum of the Bell 429, which is the light twin platform of choice for law enforcement work,” said David Sale, Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Bell.
