| |
• Upper-midwest US EMS customer adds to their fleet, expands bases;
• AW119Kx meets highest standards of EMS operational requirements and availability;
• Over 115 Leonardo’s EMS helicopters now in service across North America.
Leonardo-Finmeccanica announced today at the Air Medical Transport Conference, taking place in Charlotte, North Carolina, that Life Link III of the upper-midwest United States has purchased an additional two AgustaWestland AW119Kx EMS-equipped helicopters as they expand their operations to establish a new base located in Brainerd, Minnesota. The two AW119Kx helicopters, featuring advanced glass cockpit and night vision goggle (NVG) capabilities, will be added to an existing fleet of seven AW119Kx aircraft delivering in-flight critical care and transporting patients in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The AW119Kx has met high standards of operational requirements and availability since the first aircraft was delivered to Life Link III in early 2014. The sale represents the growing share of Leonardo’s helicopters in the North American EMS market, which now totals more than 115 across a fleet of AW119s, AW109s, and AW139s.
About the AW119Kx helicopter
The AW119Kx features a new avionics system that includes a synthetic vision system, moving map, highway in the sky and obstacle/terrain avoidance systems for enhanced situational awareness and safety. Integrating the Garmin G1000HTM flight deck system into the proven AW119 platform, certifying the new avionics suite, and delivering the next-generation helicopter to customers in the United States, Brazil, Chile, Australia, and China has been a testament to the success of Leonardo Helicopters’ design engineering and production teams and has contributed to the strength of the aircraft across all market segments. Over 260 AW119 helicopters have been ordered to date in more than 30 countries by over 120 customers. The new AW119Kx is perfectly suited to perform many roles, including EMS, VIP/corporate transport, utility, fire-fighting, law enforcement, and government duties.
About Life Link III
Life Link III (lifelinkiii.com) operates six helicopter bases that include Alexandria, Blaine, Cloquet, Hibbing, and Willmar, Minnesota, and Rice Lake, Wisconsin. The company’s helicopter and airplane services provide on-scene emergency response and inter-facility transport for patients requiring critical care. Life Link III’s transportation services are accredited by CAMTS (Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transportation Services), ensuring the highest standards of quality and safety are met.
Life Link III is a non-profit consortium and is the air medical transport program for 44 hospitals for the following member-owner organizations: Allina Health, CentraCare Health, Children’s Minnesota, Essentia Health, Fairview Health Services, Regions Hospital/HealthPartners®, Hennepin County Medical Center, St. Luke’s, and Sacred Heart Hospital.
Note
Following the process of the reorganisation of the Leonardo-Finmeccanica Group’s companies, it should be noted that from January 1st 2016: the “Helicopters” division has absorbed the activities of AgustaWestland; the “Aircraft” division has absorbed part of the activities of Alenia Aermacchi; the “Aero-structures” division has absorbed part of the activities of Alenia Aermacchi; the “Airborne & Space Systems” division has absorbed part of the activities of Selex ES; the “Land & Naval Defence Electronics” division has absorbed part of the activities of Selex ES; the “Security & Information Systems” division has absorbed part of the activities of Selex ES; the “Defence Systems” division has absorbed the activities of OTO Melara and WASS.
About Leonardo-Finmeccanica
Leonardo-Finmeccanica (leonardocompany.com) is among the top ten global players in Aerospace, Defence and Security and Italy’s main industrial company. As a single entity from January 2016, organised into business divisions (Helicopters; Aircraft; Aero-structures; Airborne & Space Systems; Land & Naval Defence Electronics; Defence Systems; Security & Information Systems), Leonardo-Finmeccanica operates in the most competitive international markets by leveraging its areas of technology and product leadership. Listed on the Milan Stock Exchange (LDO), at 31 December 2015 Finmeccanica recorded consolidated revenues of 13 billion Euros and has a significant industrial presence in Italy, the UK and the U.S.
|
pressoffice[.]leonardocompany.com 
