LEONARDO'S AUSTRALIAN AW139 FLEET GROWS
African Pilot|April 2023
Leonardo has announced further growth in presence of the AW139 intermediate twin engine helicopter in Australia with orders for a total of six aircraft by three different prime operators: Babcock Australasia, RACQ CQ Rescue and StarFlight Australia. All six aircraft will be delivered from Leonardo's Vergiate final assembly line facility in Italy during 2024.
LEONARDO'S AUSTRALIAN AW139 FLEET GROWS

The two AW139 platforms ordered by Babcock will carry out a range of HEMS, Search and Rescue and Inter-Hospital Patient Transport missions on behalf of an undisclosed client. The AW139 platforms will be delivered in 2024 and will commence service in the second half of the year, following dedicated mission customisation performed locally. The new aircraft will feature a wide range of tailored equipment including: four-axis DAFCS (Digital Automatic Flight Control System) autopilot enhanced with Hover Mode; brand new Avionic Phase 8; TCAS II (Traffic Collision Avoidance System); searchlight; camera; wire cutter and rescue hoist, among others. This new order will bring the total Babcock AW139 fleet to nine, as they already operate seven AW139s in Australia on behalf of Air Ambulance Victoria and RACQ CapRescue. Babcock's Managing Director Aviation & Critical Services Peter Newington said expanding Babcock's fleet of AW139 helicopters will bring enhanced capability across its contracts. "The AW139 aircraft provides increased speed range and operational capability which is essential for the vast distance and challenging terrains across Australia."

The two AW139 platforms ordered by CQ Rescue will be used in the Mackay region of Central Queensland to perform both on-shore and off-shore EMS/SAR missions day and night and in most weather conditions.

This story is from the April 2023 edition of African Pilot.

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This story is from the April 2023 edition of African Pilot.

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