AW

Irish aircraft leasing company Lease Corporation International (LCI) has delivered the first new AW139 helicopter to Australia’s Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.

A not-for-profit, community-supported operation, Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service provides aeromedical, search and rescue services.

According to LCI, the AW139 is currently en route and will arrive next month at Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service’s main base in Newcastle, New South Wales (NSW).

Following its arrival, pilots and other rescue and medical crews will begin training.

The newly delivered aircraft is the first of four AW139 helicopters, which will be leased from LCI in the upcoming months.

LCI noted that Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service carries out more than 1,400 missions every year across Hunter, Central Coast, Mid North Coast, New England and northwestern regions of Australia.

"This first delivery is a further step in the transformative upgrade process for the service as it deploys the latest helicopter technology in critical care missions."

After being equipped with necessary configurations for conducting emergency medical service (EMS) operations in Australia and crew training operations, the first helicopters will enter service during the first quarter of next year.

The helicopter will be operated under contract for NSW Ambulance, on behalf of NSW Health within the NSW government.

Ordered last October, the helicopters are part of NSW government’s commitment to enhance its helicopter retrieval network through the provision of higher quality clinical care, which aims to be faster and safer than before.

With medical and rescue equipment and winch, the high-specification aircraft has been financed under a tripartite, ten-year arrangement with Westpac Banking, an existing financier of LCI and long-term naming rights sponsor of the helicopter operator.

LCI executive chairman Crispin Maunder said: "This first delivery is a further step in the transformative upgrade process for the service as it deploys the latest helicopter technology in critical care missions.

"By the end of this year, LCI will lease ten AW139 helicopters for aeromedical operations in Australia, which highlights the important role that leasing has in this market."

Image: Following its arrival, AW139 will start providing training to pilots and other rescue and medical crews. Photo: courtesy of LCI.