American Eurocopter, the leading provider of helicopters to the U.S. air medical transport industry, today announced that West Penn Allegheny Health System (WPAHS) has ordered its fifth EC145 for its LifeFlight Program.

WPAHS LifeFlight is a long-time customer of American Eurocopter and currently operates four EC145s in its fleet. This fifth helicopter is part of a standardization program and will replace a large, aged aircraft in its fleet.

“The EC145 provides the size, power, reliability and range that many air medical operators have chosen for their fleet replacement and standardization programs,” said Treg Manning, American Eurocopter’s Vice President of Sales. “LifeFlight’s selection of the EC145 confirms the aircraft’s growing reputation as the medium-class, twin-engine platform of choice for the U.S. air medical industry.”

“When we selected the EC145 for our fleet replacement, we chose the helicopter because it gives us the range, capacity, versatility and reliability we need for our missions,” said Cathy Fackovec, WPAHS Director of Operations for Emergency Services. “By adding this fifth helicopter we can standardize our fleet, which reduces training costs across our fleet and greatly reduces maintenance costs from our older aircraft.”

In the United States and across the globe, the EC145 has made a name for itself with its size, performance, speed and flexibility. The versatility, reliability and the safety attributes of the aircraft have made it particularly appealing to the air medical industry.

The EC145 features the largest cabin in its class and when combined with the power of its two Turbomeca ARRIEL engines provides the extra payload capacity to carry additional medical crew and specialized equipment. Its high set main and tail rotors, rear-loading clamshell doors, unmatched visibility and advanced avionics make it ideal for air medical missions.

LifeFlight helicopters operate across western Pennsylvania and southeastern Ohio, as well as in parts of West Virginia and Maryland. Its helicopters serve as air ambulances, inter hospital transports for patients, and flying intensive care units. The program flies an estimated 2,500 missions annually and to date, LifeFlight has completed more than 60,000 missions in the four-state area.

About American Eurocopter

American Eurocopter is the U.S. affiliate of Eurocopter, the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world, and a subsidiary of EADS North America Holdings, the North American operations of EADS, the second largest aerospace and defense company in the world. American Eurocopter is a helicopter manufacturer and markets, sells and supports the broadest range of civil and para-public helicopters offered by any manufacturer. The product line represents the most cost-effective, technologically-advanced helicopters, ranging from light single to heavy twin, serving all markets and missions. American Eurocopter’s headquarters and main facility are in Grand Prairie, TX, with a large manufacturing and production facility in Columbus, MS.

Photo of the announcement ceremony at American Eurocopter’s booth at AMTC 2011