Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

Last week at the Avalon Australian International Airshow, Bell Textron and Queensland Police Service (QPS) signed a service provision contract to add three Bell 429s to the QPS Polair fleet, which will bring the total to six 429s. The Polair fleet’s first three 429s are operated by Surf Life Saving Queensland, which patrols and supports on-ground policing efforts in southeast Queensland.
According to Bell, “The new batch of Bell 429s is part of a Polair service provision contract between QPS and Townsville-based Meridian Helicopters to provide a similar airborne law enforcement capability in north Queensland for the next 10 years.”
The new 429s will be equipped with night vision capability and cameras to help the QPS officers track vehicles, apprehend offenders, and locate missing persons. Available law enforcement-specific features include infrared camera, searchlight, removable and sliding doors, wire strike protection system, optional auxiliary fuel tank, fast rope insertion/extraction system, and an equipment operator station with one or two advanced tactical displays.
Bell also announced that the South Australian government is purchasing two Bell 429s for the South Australia Police (Sapol). On Oct. 1, 2027, Sapol will begin operating the 429s, becoming the country’s third law enforcement agency to add this model. Toll Aviation pilots and Sapol tactical flight officers will operate the 429s, which will support airborne law enforcement, tactical response, search-and-rescue, disaster management, and operational transport missions.
At the Avalon show, Bell also celebrated operators’ key milestones. Nautilus Aviation’s Bell 407GXi fleet doubled the number of flight hours logged in less than 12 months, reaching more than 6,300. The company operates five 407GXIs in parapublic and tourism operations in Northern Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef region. Kestrel Aviation celebrated its 40th anniversary and operates the largest Bell medium-twin fleet in Australia, primarily for firefighting activities. Kestrel’s fleet includes the Bell 206L3, 407, 212, and 412 and operates from a purpose-built helicopter airfield in Mangalore in central Victoria.

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Bell Scores More Helicopter Sales at Avalon Australian Airshow

Company’s helicopters employed in law enforcement and utility roles

The new Bell 429s will be equipped with night vision capability and cameras to help Queensland Police Service officers track vehicles & locate missing persons. 

Bell Scores More Sales at Avalon Australian Airshow

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Aircraft will serve in emergency medical services role

New Zealand Search and Rescue Orders H145 Helicopters

The 525 is the first civil fly-by-wire helicopter.

Bell Pilot on Flying the 525 Relentless Fly-by-Wire Helicopter and Program Update

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Track and balance and diagnostics system can be used on new-technology rotorcraft

Bell Approves GE Rotor Analysis Diagnostic System

The R88 can seat 10 and carry up to 1,800 pounds of payload.

Robinson's New R88 Model Supersizes its Helicopter Family

Geared towards emergency medical services, it offers more interior space and performance.

Airbus Expands its Twin-Engine Helicopter Family With the New H140 Model

Amy Wilder

News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

In this article

Bell

More In Rotorcraft

New Zealand Search and Rescue Orders H145 Helicopters

Aircraft will serve in emergency medical services role

Bell Pilot on Flying the 525 Relentless Fly-by-Wire Helicopter and Program Update

The 525 is the first civil fly-by-wire helicopter.

Bell Approves GE Rotor Analysis Diagnostic System

Track and balance and diagnostics system can be used on new-technology rotorcraft

Robinson's New R88 Model Supersizes its Helicopter Family

The R88 can seat 10 and carry up to 1,800 pounds of payload.

Airbus Expands its Twin-Engine Helicopter Family With the New H140 Model

Geared towards emergency medical services, it offers more interior space and performance.

Airbus Logs Commitments for 118 Helicopters at Verticon

Newly unveiled H140 generated interest among emergency medical operators

VAI Presents 2025 Salute to Excellence Award Winners

Annual awards honor outstanding achievements in the helicopter industry

Airbus Orders Climb, CityAirbus eVTOL Program Pausing

Battery technology remains insufficient for electric program progress

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN