Leonardo signed a contract for four AW119Kx of IFR variant (Instrument Flight Rures) with the US operator Mercy Flight Central which provides ambulance services specifically to residents of New York State. Delivery of the first helicopter is expected in 2022. The new helicopters will be used for the transport of patients with first aid capability during transfer flights in a radius of 240 km.
It is the first single-engine helicopter in the world in recent decades to obtain certification in the USA to operate according to the rules of the instrument flight. Thanks to Genesys Aerosystems advanced avionics and redundant flight systems, the AW119 IFR allows to operate in poor visibility and in adverse weather conditions, guaranteeing reliability and safety.
Built in Philadelphia plant, the AW119 is ideal for carrying out various missions such as helicopter rescue, firefighting, public order, passenger transport, utility, training and military and government tasks. Almost 360 AW119s have been sold to more than 130 customers in 40 countries around the world to date. Additionally, a variant of the AW119 was chosen by the US Navy for the training of the next generation of naval pilots.
In the recent IFR variant, the AW119Kx received a first order on the US EMS market in 2020. The recent contract with Mercy Flight Central further increases the presence of Leonardo's helicopters in the North American EMS market which today has almost 100 units belonging to models AW119, AW109, AW169 e AW139.
“We are delighted to introduce the AW119 to serve our communities,” he said Jeff Bartkoski, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mercy Flight Central -. This helicopter will allow us to reach patients with greater safety and more capacity, allowing us to enhance our service in the coming decades”.
“We are delighted with our partnership with Mercy Flight Central – he added William Hunt, head of Leonardo's Helicopters division in the USA -. The acquisition of the IFR variant of the AW119 will make a substantial contribution to rescuers engaged in flight activities in difficult weather conditions, while providing great versatility for the transport and care of patients in the cabin and enhancing the extraordinary assistance that the operator provides to his community”.
