Pasadena Police Department to Add Two Bell 505s to Fleet

New helicopters will enhance public safety capabilities in the city and surrounding region.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 7:16pm

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Bell Textron Inc., a subsidiary of Textron Inc., announced that the Pasadena Police Department in California has placed an order for two Bell 505 helicopters. The new aircraft will join the department's existing Bell 206B helicopters and provide enhanced mission capabilities to support officers on the ground, improve response times, and deliver critical aerial support.

Why it matters

The addition of the Bell 505s represents a significant investment by the Pasadena Police Department in modernizing its air operations to better serve and protect the local community. As a long-time Bell customer, this purchase demonstrates the department's confidence in the aircraft's performance and versatility for public safety missions.

The details

The Bell 505s will be outfitted with a specialized mission suite designed by CNC Technologies, including Wescam MX-10 electro-optical/infrared imaging systems, tactical mapping capability, NVG-compatible cockpit upgrades, high-intensity searchlight capability, and resilient real-time video transmission. These advanced capabilities will align with the department's operational needs and provide a mission-ready platform.

  • The purchase order was announced on March 11, 2026 during the VAI Verticon 2026 event.
  • The Pasadena Police Department's Air Operations Section currently operates Bell 206B helicopters, which the new Bell 505s will join.

The players

Bell Textron Inc.

A subsidiary of Textron Inc. and the manufacturer of the Bell 505 helicopter.

Pasadena Police Department

The law enforcement agency in Pasadena, California that is purchasing the two Bell 505 helicopters.

CNC Technologies

The prime contractor for the Pasadena Police Department's Bell 505 program, responsible for the mission suite design and support.

Gene Harris

The Police Chief of the Pasadena Police Department.

Alex Giuffrida

The Managing Partner of CNC Technologies.

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What they’re saying

“As a long-time Bell customer, we are thrilled the Pasadena Police Department has chosen the Bell 505 as the product of choice to demonstrate their mission capabilities.”

— Lane Evans, Managing Director, North America Commercial Sales, Bell (justhelicopters.com)

“This investment in our new Bell 505s represent a major step forward in how the Pasadena Police Department serves and protects our community. These aircraft give our Air Operations Section the enhanced capabilities needed to support officers on the ground, improve response times, and provide critical aerial support.”

— Gene Harris, Police Chief, Pasadena Police Department (justhelicopters.com)

“CNC Technologies is proud to serve as the prime contractor for the Pasadena Police Department's Bell 505 program. Our team is delivering a mission-ready capability with long-term support.”

— Alex Giuffrida, Managing Partner, CNC Technologies (justhelicopters.com)

What’s next

The Pasadena Police Department plans to take delivery of the two new Bell 505 helicopters in the coming months and integrate them into their Air Operations Section to enhance public safety capabilities across the city and surrounding region.

The takeaway

The Pasadena Police Department's investment in the Bell 505 helicopters demonstrates a commitment to modernizing their air support capabilities and leveraging advanced technology to better serve and protect their community. This purchase reinforces the growing demand for the Bell 505 platform among law enforcement agencies seeking versatile, mission-ready aircraft.