Six more AW139s helicopters for Australia
The helicopters will be delivered to Babcock, CQ Rescue and StarFlight Australia to carry out HEMS and SAR operations
Leonardo announced that it has received orders for six more AW139 intermediate twin engine helicopter, from three different Australia operators.
The orders were placed at the Avalon Airshow in Geelong, Victoria – which runs between 28 February and 5 March – by Babcock Australasia, RACQ CQ Rescue (CQ Rescue) and StarFlight Australia. All six aircraft will be delivered during 2024.
The two AW139 platforms ordered by Babcock will carry out a range of HEMS, SAR and Inter-Hospital Patient Transport missions. Babcock’s Managing Director, Aviation and Critical Services, Peter Newington said: “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 air ambulance and search and rescue provision (SAR) missions. The new AW139s will allow CQ Rescue to fly twice as far, and with a 30 per cent increase in mission speed compared with the organization’s older aircraft.
“The AW139s will deliver enormous benefits to our service including new generation avionics, superior performance, proven technology, and exceptional safety features,” said Tim Healee, CEO of CQ Rescue.
The two AW139 platforms ordered by StarFlight Australia will be operated in Queensland and other parts of Australia, carrying out EMS/SAR missions in both on shore and off shore capacities. This new order will bring the total of AW139s operated by the StarFlight and LifeFlight groups to 15, nine of which are dedicated to EMS/SAR missions.
StarFlight Australia CEO and Director, Ashley van de Velde, said: “We already operate a number of these aircraft in our fleet and are constantly impressed with their reliability, quality, and serviceability.”
The AW139 platform is widely used around the world and a new simulator has recently been introduced at Turkmenistan Airlines’ premises in Ashgabat.
Jon Adams
Jon is the Editor of AirMed&Rescue. He was previously Editor for Clinical Medicine and Future Healthcare Journal at the Royal College of Physicians before coming to AirMed&Rescue in November 2022. His favorite helicopter is the Army Air Corps Lynx that he saw his father fly while growing up on Army bases.