Leonardo Helicopters has received orders for eight AW139 intermediate-twins from Australian operators, the majority configured for emergency medical services (EMS) missions.

Those for the EMS market include a pair for Babcock Australasia – on lease from LCI – two for RACQ CQ Rescue, and another two for StarFlight Australia; all six rotorcraft are due to arrive in 2024.

Babcock Capricornia-c-Leonardo Helicopters

Source: Leonardo Helicopters

Babcock already operates a fleet of seven AW139s in Australia on behalf of Air Ambulance Victoria and RACQ CapRescue. The new examples will enter service in the second half of 2024 for an undisclosed client.

To be delivered in the second quarter of 2024, for service entry later that year, the CQ Rescue aircraft will be used in the Mackay region of Central Queensland for onshore and offshore EMS and search and rescue missions.

StarFlight Australia’s pair will join an existing inventory of 13 AW139s across its fleet and that of parent operator LifeFlight Australia.

Meanwhile, Toll Helicopters will receive the final pair of AW139s, which will be used to support its contract with the Australian Defence Force, for missions including training and disaster relief. Delivery will take place in the second half of 2023. Toll already flies 10 AW139s.

Dominic Perry is deputy editor of Flight International but also contributes extensively to flightglobal.com. Although specialising in the coverage of the helicopter industry, he has written on most topics in aerospace – be they commercial, defence or business aviation. In addition, there has been an increasing focus on the decarbonisation of the industry and zero-emission flight initiatives.View full Profile

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