AgustaWestland AW119 Koala Single-Turbine Light Helicopter, Italy

The AW119 Koala single-turbine light helicopter, developed and manufactured by AgustaWestland of Italy, first flew in 1995 and entered service in 2000.

The helicopter design work was carried out at Agusta's Cascina Costa di Samarate engineering centre. Agusta continues full-scale production, marketing and support of the Koala. Denel is marketing the helicopter in South Africa and has set up an assembly production line and a spares and components manufacturing facility to support the main production line in Cascina Costa.

AgustaWestland has expanded the facility of its US subsidiary, Agusta Aerospace Corp in Philadelphia, for the manufacturing and assembly of the AW119. The first US manufactured Koala made its maiden flight in June 2005.

Multi-role helicopters

The AW119 Koala single turbine light helicopter has the capacity to transport seven passengers plus the pilot or slung loads up to 1,000kg. The maximum cruise speed is over 260km/h (140kt) and the maximum range with seven passengers and their luggage is more than 650km (350nm).

The helicopter can be equipped for search and rescue, medical evacuation, surveillance and passenger and light cargo transport roles. For firefighting, the Koala can be fitted with the Simplex 323 Fire Attack System, which has a 1,200l capacity.

The Koala is in service in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Italy, Turkey, UK, USA and Venezuela. Over 130 orders have been received including: Tex-Air of Texas, USA (transport for the offshore oil and gas industry), Elieuro of Italy (firefighting), New York Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Mississipi air ambulance, LinFox of Australia, J.B. Air of Canada, Omniflight of Wisconsin, USA (EMS), Saint Alphonsus Life Flight in Boise, Idaho (EMS) and Careflight of Australia (EMS).

AW119 KE (Koala enhanced)

In February 2007, AgustaWestland launched the AW119 Ke (Koala Enhanced) helicopter, the current production version. The AW119 Ke has an increased maximum take-off weight of 2,850kg and new main rotor blades with a higher rotation rate for additional lift and temperature operating range.

Fumigacion Aerea Andaluza (FAASA) of Spain is the launch customer for the new helicopter, with an order for six placed in March 2007, for firefighting. The AW119 Ke can be fitted with the Simplex Model 323 Fire Attack System, with a water capacity of 1,200l.

The AW119 Ke received European certification in June 2007. The helicopter entered service in July 2008 with FAASA. AW119 Ke production is being carried out in the USA, at AgustaWestland's Philadelphia plant. The first AW119 Ke featuring the Versace-styled interior was delivered to a private customer in Russia in August 2008.

Orders include: Heliflite of Australia (three), Aerolineas Ejecutivas of Mexico (four), INAER of Spain (six), Finnish Border Guard (three) and Red Cross Air Mercy Service (AMS) of South Africa (four).

Koala design

The fuselage is made of high-strength aluminium alloy structure. The composite main rotor has a titanium hub with composite grips and elastomeric bearings. The four blades, of diameter 10.83m, are fully articulated. The tail rotor is two-bladed.

AW119 cockpit features

The AW119 features dual controls and a three-axis autopilot. The cockpit is night vision goggle compatible.

The AW119 is equipped with a Honeywell Silver Crown avionics suite, including navigation and communication systems, moving map display and optional integrated instrument display suite.

Systems include an emergency locator transponder, flight director, GPS and Honeywell AA300 radar altimeter.

An auto-trim system alters or maintains the helicopter's attitude in response to the aerodynamic loading and the pilot's flight control demands.

Cabin configurations

The helicopter carries the pilot and up to seven passengers in a 2+3+3 configuration. The cabin is heated, air-conditioned, insulated and soundproofed for passenger comfort. The cabin is easily accessed through the large sliding doors on each side. There is also a door on each side of the cockpit.

The baggage compartment provides 0.95m³ space and a second compartment of almost 0.5m³ can be accessed from the cabin in flight.

For casualty evacuation the cabin is easily and quickly reconfigured for two stretcher patients, a doctor and two medical attendants in addition to the pilot and front seat passenger.

Mission and operation systems

For surveillance and search and rescue operations the helicopter is equipped with a Spectrolab SX-5 search light and a forward looking infrared surveillance system with a low light level television camera.

The AW119 can be fitted with a cargo hook rated at either 500kg or 1,000kg for carrying external loads. The helicopter's maximum take-off weight with an external load is 3,000kg. A rescue hoist rated at 200kg can be fitted for SAR operations.

The helicopter has fixed skid landing gear. Snow skids and external emergency floats for operation over water can be fitted.

Pratt & Whitney turboshaft engine

The helicopter is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6B-37A turboshaft engine, rated at 650kW continuous and 747kW take-off power. A particle separator can be fitted. There are optionally four fuel tanks of capacity 721l for highly efficient operation or five fuel tanks with capacity 871l for longer endurance.