Latest Leonardo light twin-engine helicopter receives EASA certification
Leonardo Helicopters has announced that its AW109 Trekker light twin was recently issued with type certification by the EASA.
Leonardo Helicopters has announced that its AW109 Trekker light twin was recently issued with type certification by the European Avation Safety Agency (EASA), with deliveries of the aircraft expected to begin within the first quarter of this year.
The AW109 Trekker is based on the AW109/Grand range, and notably is equipped with skid landing gear and a state-of-the-art Genesys Aerosystems ‘glass’ cockpit, a system that aims to reduce pilots workload by only displaying necessary information, says Leonardo. Power is provided by two FADEC equipped Pratt and Whitney Canada PW207C turbine engines.
The cabin is able to accommodate either one stretcher and three to four medical attendants or two stretchers with two attendants when in medevac configuration. It also incorporates several safety features, including: cocoon-type airframe; crash resistant fuel system; crew and passengers’ seats; full Category A/Class 1 performance in hot environments; and a 30-minute ‘run-dry’ main gear box.
The modular configuration approach to the vehicle means that it is customisable, and can come equipped with external rescue hoist, searchlight, external loudspeakers, FLIR (forward looking infra-red) camera, video downlink, snow skis and emergency floats, as well as a wide range of interior layouts, say Leonardo. It can also be operated from single pilot VFR to dual pilot IFR.
Leonardo says that it has received 40 orders for the aircraft.