AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that Life Link III has signed a contract for six AW119Kx single-engine helicopters plus six options. AgustaWestland Philadelphia will assemble the helicopters and install the aeromedical interiors at their Northeast Philadelphia Airport facility. Deliveries will start in late 2013 with the aircraft being used to provide air medical transport in Minnesota and surrounding locations. AgustaWestland Philadelphia will also provide aircrew and maintainer training for Life Link III at its Training Academy.

Bob Brant, AgustaWestland Philadelphia’s VP Sales & Marketing, said “We are delighted to have another leading air medical transport provider in North America select the AW119Kx for its future needs. The AW119Kx, with its advanced Garmin G1000H avionics systems, outstanding performance and class leading cabin space, will enable Life Link III to provide exceptional levels of service for the benefit of the patients and communities they serve.”

Edward R. Eroe, Life Link III President and CEO, said after the signing, “Life Link III evaluated several aircraft and concluded that the aviation performance, safety features, clinical space capability, and economics of the Agusta were the best options for the patients we serve in the North Central Midwest.  We are very excited by what the AgustaWestland 119kx will bring to our operations and how it will enhance our mission far into the future.”

Unveiled in October 2012, the AW119Kx is the latest evolution of the proven AW119 single-engine helicopter which features the Garmin G1000H^TM integrated flight deck system while keeping the AW119’s outstanding performance, cabin space and payload. The new avionics system includes a synthetic vision system, moving map, highway in the sky and obstacle/terrain avoidance systems for enhanced situational awareness and safety. The new avionics are also optimized for diagnostics and data analysis for maintenance purposes.

Over 225 AW119 helicopters have been ordered to date in more than 30 countries by over 100 customers. The new AW119Kx, like the AW119Ke, is perfectly suited to perform many roles including air medical transport, VIP/corporate transport, utility, fire-fighting, offshore transport, law enforcement and government duties.

Life Link III is an air medical transport system providing transport for patients in Minnesota and throughout the United States of America using helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Life Link III is a non-profit consortium whose members include: Allina Health, Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Essentia Health St Mary’s Medical Center, Fairview Health Services, Hennepin County Medical Center, Regions Hospital, Sacred Heart Hospital of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, St Cloud Hospital/CentraCare Health System and St Luke’s.

For more information please visit www.lifelinkiii.com

Editor note – Life Link III has previously exclusively used Bell helicopters