Bell delivers two 429s to JDF

Bell has delivered two 429s this week to the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), with a third aircraft scheduled for delivery next year.

The three aircraft will be used for a number of missions, including search-and-rescue, medical evacuation, disaster relief, national security and military-training operations.

Jay Ortiz, senior vice president, Bell’s commercial business for the Americas said: “We are proud to celebrate today’s delivery and strengthen our rich history with the JDF.

“The Bell 429 is the most technologically advanced aircraft in its class and these modern platforms will provide the JDF with enhanced mission capabilities well into the future.”

The Bell 429’s global fleets recently reached more than 330,000 hours of flight operations. There are currently more than 325 aircraft in operation across various missions.

Over the past two years, Bell has secured orders for two additional 429s with the Swedish Police Authority, one model for the Indonesian Police, two for an undisclosed Asia-Pacific government agency and two for two corporate customers in Germany and Bangladesh.

Colonel Roderick Williams, the JDF’s Colonel Adjutant Quartermaster and a former Commanding Officer of the JDF Air Wing said: “Over the years, our mission has evolved resulting in the need to acquire the Bell 429 to more effectively meet the demands of our mission profiles and further prove our rotary wing capability.

“The Bell 429 offers excellent performance and advanced avionics with outstanding maintainability and aircraft readiness for multi-mission operations.”