Rotorcraft Report: Virginia Beach Police Receives New Bell 407

PUBLIC

The Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) took delivery of a new Bell 407, the latest addition to its current, but aging, fleet of two Bell 206B JetRangers.

"We started the unit in the early to mid-1970s with three [surplus] Bell 47 helicopters, then made two flyable," said police chief J.M. "Jake" Jacocks, who spoke to R&W about the acquisition. "Since then, we’ve advanced to the Bell 206 and now the 407."

Jacocks said the agency would sell the older 206B to help offset the cost of the new aircraft, which will serve the 435,000 residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s most populous city. Virginia Beach also boasts the largest municipal police department in the state with 800 members, including the aviation unit’s six pilots and eight flight officers.

"We’ll use it to support patrol officers on the ground," Jacocks said of the new helicopter. "And it’s configured to also serve as an air ambulance."

VBPD’s 407 is equipped with emergency floats, a Spectra Lab SX-16 Night Sun, FLIR model 8000 Ultra infrared camera/video system, Motorola-5000 800-MHz radio suite, Avalex moving map with digital recorder, Broadcast Microwave Services digital downlink system, and Garmin 530 and 430 GPS units. The helicopter was completed with the Lifeport medevac interior kit and an NVG-ready cockpit for use with the agency’s ANViS-9 night vision goggles.