AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, announced today that it has made a contribution in the amount of $15,000 to LifeFlight of Maine, in honor of 15 years and 16,000 patients served throughout the state.

LifeFlight of Maine is celebrating the occasion with a 15th Anniversary Chef’s Gala, featuring a tour of one of LifeFlight’s helicopters and powerful patient testimonials.

“Our partnership with AgustaWestland allows patients in the most critical situations access to care that without a helicopter, simply would not be available,” said Thomas Judge, Executive Director of LifeFlight of Maine. “We are incredibly appreciative of their ongoing support and commitment to the air medical transport industry and look forward to building our program with AgustaWestland by our side.”

“We’re pleased to support LifeFlight of Maine as they celebrate 15 years of life-saving rescues and safe patient transport,” said Bob Brant, Vice President of Sales and Marketing with AgustaWestland. “Again and again, LifeFlight of Maine has displayed a commitment to putting patients first, and we are proud to be their air medical transportation partner.”

LifeFlight of Maine operates two twin-engine AgustaWestland AW109 Power helicopters purchased new in January 2005. One helicopter, based in Lewiston at Central Maine Medical Center, has been configured to accommodate 3 crew members and 2 patients. The other helicopter, based at Eastern Maine Medical Center, can carry 3 crew members and 1 patient and has an additional fuel tank to accommodate longer trips.

AgustaWestland has long been supportive of the air medical transport industry, through its involvement with the Association of Air Medical Services, as well as lead sponsor of the Association of Critical Care Transport Symposium and Roundtable, “Managing Time Dependent Disease Across the Landscape.”