Airwork (NZ) Limited have obtained Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAANZ) Supplementary Type Certificate for a Light Weight, cost effective AW139 Wet Floor for EMS/SAR and Offshore configured Leonardo AW139 Helicopters.

The Airwork standard fit Wet Floor for the Leonardo AW139 helicopter was designed in conjunction with the launch customer, CHC Australia, and is available in two variants for helicopters configured for either permanent EMS/SAR or offshore passenger transfer services requiring a rapid role change capability.

The Airwork designed AW139 Wet Floor is already installed in AW139 helicopters at CHC Helicopters (Australia) in EMS/SAR operations in Australia. These aircraft fly in some of the harshest and most demanding environments in the world and the new Wet Floor will provide a protective barrier for the cabin floor and preserve the reliability and availability of their aircraft from the detrimental effects of saltwater ingress and other fluids that are harsh and corrosive to the helicopter’s structure.

Nigel Kerr, Fleet Project Manager, CHC Helicopters Australia says, “The Wet Floor solution Airwork designed for our fleet provides a lighter, more cost-effective solution than other options in the market. A key inclusion was provisions for our rotating traversing medical seat into the STC enabling a more flexible and efficient cabin layout for our operations.”

The new AW139 Wet Floor is designed and manufactured from light-weight composite material, including 3D stainless steel printed parts that is easy to install, preserving the structural integrity and crashworthiness of the helicopter. It incorporates seat tracks and tie down provisions that sit flush on a durable, non-slip surface floor preventing snag or trip hazards and provides a safer and more protective work area for rescue and medical crews.

An application is currently with the FAA for STC validation; approval is anticipated during May 2021.