Elitaliana orders two AgustaWestland AW109 Trekker helicopters

Finmeccanica – AgustaWestland has received an order for two AW109 Trekker helicopters from Italian firm Elitaliana.

In their emergency medical service configuration, the newly ordered choppers will be targeted to support Elitaliana’s expansion plans including operating from new bases in Italy and abroad, as well as to those already positioned in the Lazio and Calabria regions of Italy.

Elitaliana operations director Alessandro Giulivi said: "We choose to confirm our long term relationship with AgustaWestland and we’re proud to be the launch customer for a HEMS equipped variant of the AW109 Trekker.

"The new helicopters will support Elitaliana’s expansion plans in Italy and Europe as well as keeping our fleet up to date with a brand new generation of rotorcraft."

With the deliveries scheduled to commence in 2016, the two Trekker helicopters will join Elitaliana’s AW109 Power and Grand light twins, in addition to already ordered six new generation AW169.

Powered by two FADEC equipped Pratt & Whitney Canada PW207C engines, the AW109 Trekker is claimed to offer class leading cruise speed of 160k, while accommodating up to six passengers or one stretcher with three or four medical attendants or two stretchers and two medical attendants.

Being the first to feature skid landing gear, the helicopter can easily be customised for a wide range of roles, including EMS, utility, SAR, law enforcement, surveillance and passenger transport applications.

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Image: Officials from Finmeccanica – AgustaWestland and Elitaliana during the signing of AW109 Trekker helicopter order. Photo: courtesy of AgustaWestland – A Finmeccanica Company.