Bell and the Texas Department of Public Safety gathered during VAI Verticon to celebrate this announcement
VAI Verticon – Atlanta, GA (March 10, 2026) Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced during the annual VAI Verticon conference that the Texas Department of Public Safety has signed a purchase agreement for a Bell 407GXi.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Aircraft Operations Division provides statewide air patrol, criminal surveillance and rescue support for the state of Texas. In addition to their new Bell 407GXi, the department also utilizes a Bell 412EP. Texas DPS and Bell have a long-standing relationship that began in 1948 when the department established their fleet with two Bell 47s. This new addition of the Bell 407GXi reflects the department’s continued trust in Bell’s reliability and mission solutions.
“Over 50 years ago, Texas DPS chose Bell as its first public safety use rotorcraft. Today, Bell is honored to continue that relationship with the department as they expand their public safety mission capabilities in a Bell 407GXi across the state of Texas,” said Lane Evans, managing director, North America sales, Bell.
Bell continues to serve as a trusted partner for public safety organizations across the globe. Proudly headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas since 1951, supporting statewide law enforcement has always been a priority for Bell. The Texas DPS’s purchase of a Bell 407GXi emphasizes Bell’s commitment to supporting law enforcement and emergency response teams with innovative technology and proven systems.
“The addition of this Bell aircraft to our fleet represents a significant investment in our operational reliability and public safety missions,” said Stacy Holland, chief pilot, Texas Department of Public Safety Aircraft Operations Division. “Greater reliability translates directly into faster response times, added support for our partners on the ground, and provides an even higher level of service to the communities we are proud to protect. The Bell 407GXi’s advanced capabilities, range, and payload capacity allows us to effectively execute our missions and enhance our ability to respond to potential threats while safeguarding communities across Texas.”
The Bell 407GXi is designed to deliver exceptional performance, reliability and versatility. Equipped with advanced avionics, safety features, cargo hooks and a spacious cabin, the aircraft is ideal for public safety operations and has been used to complete countless missions. The design highlights safety and efficiency for customers, ensuring operators can complete their missions with confidence. To learn more about the Bell 407GXi, visit the product page.
Follow along for more news from Bell at VAI Verticon 2026.
ABOUT BELL
Thinking above and beyond is what we do. For more than 90 years, we’ve been reimagining the experience of flight – and where it can take us. We're an aerospace and defense company that engineers and manufactures aircraft for critical solutions in extreme scenarios. We're breaking barriers in lifting people to safety across transportation, medical, rescue and military services, and leading the industry in future solutions that are fast, reliable and efficient. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas – as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., – we have strategic locations around the globe. And with nearly one quarter of our workforce having served, helping our military achieve their missions is a passion of ours. Above all, our breakthrough innovations deliver exceptional experiences to our customers. Efficiently. Reliably. And always, with safety at the forefront.
ABOUT TEXTRON INC.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation + Training. For more information, visit: www.textron.com.
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