ScanDiego.com

The next Law Enforcement Bell 407GX helicopter in 2015

ASTREA Adding 407GX
A new Sheriff’s Department helicopter could serve double duty, helping both law enforcement and firefighters. The Bell 407 GX helicopter the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department wants to add to its aerial fleet could also support local fire departments with fire suppression efforts.
http://www.heliopsmag.com/news/astrea-adding-407gx

RFP PDF file about the Bell 407GX
https://buynet.sdcounty.ca.gov/Attachme ... ackage.pdf

Board of Supervisors Minutes about the Bell 407GX
http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/bos/agend ... 514sop.pdf

N972PC is Reserved
Mode-S Code: AD8C5B
Reserved Date: 04/02/2014
Reserving Party Name: SAN DIEGO COUNTY SHERIFFS
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry ... rtxt=972PC

Bell Helicopter Selected by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office for a Bell 407GX

07/18/2014
Phoenix, AZ (July 18, 2014) – Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced that, pending successful final negotiations, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department intends to award a contract for a Bell 407GX. The aircraft will be used for parapublic missions, including: search and rescue, fire suppression, and law enforcement air support to public safety agencies throughout San Diego County.

“We are very excited to provide the San Diego County Sheriff with such a reliable aircraft,” said Anthony Moreland, managing director of sales for Bell Helicopter in North America. “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 San Diego County Sheriff’s Department currently has three Bell helicopters in operation including, two Bell 205 A1++ and one Bell 407 to help them protect and serve the citizens of San Diego.

The Bell 407GX delivers power and speed with a smooth, quiet ride and a spacious cabin that accommodates six passengers. The aircraft also features the fully-integrated Garmin G1000H™ flight deck, providing critical flight information at a glance for greater situational awareness and increased safety. The Bell 407GX flight deck's high resolution LCD screens host primary flight and multi-function display information, including Helicopter Terrain Avoidance Warning System, Helicopter Synthetic Vision Technology™, Traffic Information Systems and more. The 407GX also features a tail rotor camera, allowing the pilot a clear view of the tail during take-offs and landings.

http://investor.textron.com/newsroom/ne ... fault.aspx

I don't think this is the same one that SDSO is getting or now has but this video shows just how cool it is to fly in them,

Bell 407GX - 30 Minute Helicopter Flight

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP4O409dqbs

Update:

REQUESTED CHANGE OF REGISTRATION
N519SP,N972PC,BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA,407,54527,BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC,FORT WORTH,TX,20150109,A6847C
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry ... rtxt=519SP

Bell 407GX - 54527 - C-FETF , N519SP , N972PC
http://www.rotorspot.nl/product/b407.php

I wonder what they're purchasing for the 3rd firefighting helo...

RescueKujo wrote:I wonder what they're purchasing for the 3rd firefighting helo...

It will be a reconditioned 205 (to match the other two).

The N972PC helicopter now in San Diego County.

The first day in the county was on March 18th, 2015.
Did another flight on March 19th out of Gillespie Field.

Flight on March 19th. Activity Log from FlightAware.

Someone uploaded some photos of new ASTREA N972PC helicopter. Great photos!
http://photo01aviation.smugmug.com/RW/N972PC-16Mar15/

Certificate Issue Date: 03/26/2015
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry ... rtxt=972PC

Wiki: ASTREA - Aerial Support to Regional Enforcement Agencies - Helicopter Fleet List
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerial_Sup ... t_Agencies

April 6, 2015

New Sheriff's Helicopter Media Advisory
(Posted: 4/6/2015 4:40:14 PM)
https://apps.sdsheriff.net/press/


New Sheriff's Helicopter

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department will be unveiling its new patrol helicopter:
a Bell 407GX.

When:
Thursday, April 9, 2015 10:00 a.m.

Where:
ASTREA Base/Sheriff's Emergency Services Division
1745 North Marshall Avenue, El Cajon.

Who:
Remarks will be made by Sheriff Bill Gore, Supervisors Bill Horn and
Dianne Jacob and ASTREA (Aerial Support to Regional Enforcement Agencies) Chief Pilot, Corporal Kevin Randall.

Parking for the media is located at the hangar. Drive past two gates and make a left.
Video of the ASTREA Bell 407GX in action will be distributed at the news conference.

On the Press Release page click the "New Sheriff's Helicopter" link.
or follow this link: http://goo.gl/BIlXIJ
You can download the RAW video. ASTREA 407 B-roll v3.mp4 (Download video link expires around April 22, 2015)
http://apps.sdsheriff.net/press/default.aspx

Video with county people talking about the helicopter.
http://www.countynewscenter.com/video?v=156401

A new Bell 407GX helicopter joined the San Diego Sheriff's Department's ASTREA fleet on Thursday.
Sheriff Bill Gore showed off the $4.8 million helicopter at Gillespie Field in El Cajon.
"I put my head in the cockpit. It does have that new helicopter smell," Gore said. "It's a beautiful piece of equipment."

San Diego Sheriff's Department unveils new patrol helicopter (Nice video to watch, Some inside shots of the helicopter)
http://www.cbs8.com/story/28765626/san- ... helicopter

The department will have nine total helicopters: six for law enforcement and three for firefighting and search and rescue.
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/S ... 90361.html

Gore said the new addition to the ASTREA fleet is loaded with new features, including a glass cockpit giving the flight crew greater situational awareness and safety. It also has an improved heat detecting camera, and warning systems to alert the flight crew about other air traffic.

Gore said his department is in the process of buying one more helicopter, a Bell 205, specifically for firefighting. He said he expects it to be delivered by this fall, bringing the total fleet up to nine helicopters.
http://www.kpbs.org/news/2015/apr/09/sh ... elicopter/

San Diego Sheriff Department's new high-tech Bell 407GX delivered earlier this week.
https://www.facebook.com/bellhelicopter ... 9880247654
https://twitter.com/one_bell/status/586535526716538880

April 9, 2015

Sheriff Bill Gore, Supervisors Bill Horn and Dianne Jacob and Sheriff's ASTREA (Aerial Support to Regional
Enforcement Agencies) unveiled a new patrol helicopter today. For photos, follow us on Twitter @SDSheriff.
For video of ASTREA's Bell 407GX in action, follow this link: http://goo.gl/BIlXIJ

The $4.8 million aircraft is a Bell 407GX. It will be used for patrol, search and rescue operations, as well as
firefighting missions. A helicopter bucket (known as a "Bambi Bucket") can be attached to help with water drops
in case of a wildfire. Among the new features is a glass cockpit. It gives critical flight information at a glance for
greater awareness and safety. The crew is made up of a Pilot and a Tactical Flight Officer (TFO) and both are
Sheriff's Deputies. The crew communicates with ground personnel, operates the search light, public
announcement or PA system, infrared camera, map system, etc. The Bell 407GX can carry five passengers.

The Sheriff's Department is also in the process of purchasing another Bell 205 firefighting helicopter. It
will increase the agency's firefighting helicopters to three and we expect delivery in Fall 2015. By the end of 2015,
the Sheriff's fleet will have nine helicopters. Six are dedicated to 24/7 law enforcement operations. Three for
daytime firefighting and search and rescue operations.

For more information on Sheriff's ASTREA, visit http://www.sdsheriff.net/astrea/index.html

ASTREA 407 B-roll v3 (1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Tdo6-fbKF0

New ASTREA Helicopter - San Diego County Sheriff's Department
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5vf9rRyPzc