Aircraft To Be Equipped For In-Flight Patient Care

Intermountain Helathcare has signed an agreement with AgustaWestland for three GrandNew helicopters with options for two additional aircraft. These aircraft will be equipped to provide in-flight patient care. Operated by Intermountain Life Flight, Intermountain Healthcare's aviation division, these aircraft will join two A109K2's already in service performing medevac missions in Utah and Northern Nevada.

AgustaWestland GrandNew

"The GrandNew helicopter offers increased performance, allowing the helicopter to be operated as an airborne intensive care unit with unprecedented situational awareness and safety," said Louis Bartolotta, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Sales, North America. "With this order, we will continue to support the community served by Intermountain Life Flight and Intermountain Healthcare for years to come. We do so with a program at the leading edge of the aero-medical community using a fleet of GrandNews, an aircraft at the leading edge of aviation technology. We are proud of our ongoing affiliation with Intermountain Healthcare."

"This is a wonderful opportunity for Intermountain Life Flight to reach its goal of fleet standardization while benefiting from AgustaWestland's technological advances and enhanced operations with the GrandNew," said Jerry Morrison, Executive Director, Intermountain Life Flight.

AgustaWestland GrandNew

Each GrandNew will be equipped with a comprehensive EMS interior featuring single or dual stretchers in addition to a rescue hoist, wire strike protection, snow skis and NVG compatibility. These aircraft will be completed and delivered at AgustaWestland's Philadelphia, Pennsylvania production facility. AgustaWestland says the GrandNew is the first helicopter in its class to incorporate a Synthetic Vision System (SVS), Highway in The Sky (HITS) and Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (HTAWS) to provide full terrain and obstacle awareness in low visibility flying conditions. The system provides the pilot with three dimensional guidance and detailed terrain maps, resulting in an advanced operating capability which sets a new benchmark in safety.

The GrandNew also already meets the latest NTSB/FAA recommendations for EMS operations to consider the use of an FAA-approved night vision goggle or enhanced vision system into flight programmes, when conditions and missions dictate.

FMI: www.agustawestland.com, www.intermountainlifeflight.org