Crews Currently Training Before Helos Enter Service

The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) has taken delivery of two AW139 medium twin helicopters, AgustaWestland announced Monday. The aircraft were accepted by the customer at the company's Vergiate facility in Italy at the end of March and are now being used for training before being shipped to Malaysia later this month.

Soon after arrival in Malaysia the aircraft will enter service with the Bomba and will be used to perform fire fighting, search and rescue, land reconnaissance and general support duties. The contract signed in January 2009 also included conversion training for aircrew and maintenance staff.

The AW139s will supplement the two AgustaWestland AW109 Power helicopters that have been successfully operating with the Bomba since 2004. This delivery marks further success for the AW139 in the fire fighting market with aircraft already in service with the Los Angeles Fire Department in the USA and the Gangwon Fire Department of Korea.

The AW139, a new generation medium twin-turbine helicopter that has set new standards in the market, offers unmatched performance and safety levels and has the largest cabin in its class. State-of-the-art mission equipment and outstanding performance features enable the AW139 to accomplish the most demanding operations in the harshest weather and environmental conditions. 

The order book for the AW139 has now reached nearly 460 aircraft with orders from over 120 customers located in almost 50 countries to perform a large number of roles including SAR, air ambulance, fire fighting, offshore transport, VIP/corporate transport, law enforcement, scheduled passenger transport and military missions.

FMI: www.agustawestland.com