Nebraska adds Bell 505 to SAR fleet
The Nebraska State Patrol has signed a Bell 505 purchase agreement with Bell Textron
The Bell 505 will join a Bell 407 in daily public safety missions including SAR, surveillance, and apprehension, as well as natural disaster response.
“Operating Bell aircraft has been critical to our Aviation Support Division’s operations in order to protect and serve the citizens of Nebraska, and the Bell 505 will allow us to cost-effectively evolve our mission capability,” said Sergeant Brian Petersen, Nebraska State Patrol’s Aviation Division Commander.
Evolving its mission capability
Nebraska State Patrol’s Bell 505 is outfitted with a L3 Wescam MX-10 camera system, Trakka Beam TLX, and a MacroBlue Tactical Display with Churchill ARS 700C Augmented Reality Mapping System technology.
The five-seater Bell 505 has a top speed of 125 knots (232 km/h) and useful load of 1,500 pounds (680 kg), and has been designed for safety, efficiency, and reliability. With a Garmin G1000, the platform leverages advanced avionics to reduce pilot workload and enhance mission experience.
The Nebraska State Patrol began their Aviation Support Unit in 1970 with a Bell 206B Jet Ranger. In 1979, the Patrol purchased a Bell 206BIII Jet Ranger and the following year acquired three Cessna 182RGs. Over a period of nearly 30 years these aircraft flew a combined 40,000 flight hours serving the citizens of Nebraska.
Earlier this year, Bell Textron has delivered the 300th Bell 505 Jet Ranger X to the Jamaica Defence Force.
Clara Bullock
Clara Bullock is a writer for ITIJ and AirMed&Rescue. Initially a freelance writer for publications ranging from gardening news to music magazines, she has made the transition to writing about the ins and outs of travel insurance and aeromedicine. In her spare time she reviews books on Instagram and eats pasta.