Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance signs
contract for two AW169 Helicopters – the first UK sale
21 July 2011 – AgustaWestland, a
Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the Warwickshire
& Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) has signed a
preliminary sale contract for two AW169 helicopters. The contract
was signed today by Andy Williamson, CEO, WNAA and Bruno
Spagnolini, CEO, AgustaWestland, during a ceremony at
AgustaWestland’s Yeovil facility in the presence of the Rt Hon Dr
Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation &
Skills. The aircraft will be delivered in 2015 specially configured
for the WNAA’s air ambulance mission requirements.
The contract marks the entrance of the AW169
into the UK public service market and represents another
outstanding success for the all new AW169 model, just a few months
after its commercial launch earlier this year. A significant number
of firm orders have already been logged worldwide for a range of
commercial and public service applications. The AW169
helicopter program, which was unveiled at the Farnborough
International Air Show in July 2010, is progressing as planned with
the first flight scheduled in 2012.
Ray Edwards, Managing Director,
AgustaWestland, said “We are delighted that the Warwickshire &
Northamptonshire Air Ambulance has chosen the AW169 to meet its
future air ambulance requirements. Being at the forefront of air
ambulance services in the UK, the AW169 is the ideal platform to
further enhance the service they provide to the communities they
serve. The AW169 is ideal for air ambulance and police missions and
we are confident that it will find great success in the UK
market.”
Andy Williamson, Chief Executive Officer,
Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance said “We are
delighted with the development of the AW 169 and intend to launch
the first two in service as a more advanced state of the art
helicopter emergency medical service.”
A versatile, new generation twin engine light
intermediate category helicopter, the AW169 has been designed in
response to the growing market demand for an aircraft that delivers
high performance, meets all the latest safety standards and has
multi-role capabilities. The 4.5 tonne AW169 incorporates several
new technology features to provide the highest levels of safety and
operational benefits for its customers. New generation technologies
are incorporated in the rotor system, engines, avionics,
transmission and electric power generation and distribution
systems. The AW169 is set to be the most advanced and cost
effective helicopter in its class for EMS, SAR, law enforcement,
passenger and offshore transport and utility missions.
About Warwickshire &
Northamptonshire Air Ambulance
The Warwickshire & Northamptonshire
Air Ambulance (WNAA) was established in 2003 and provides an
emergency medical service across 2000 square miles of the heart of
England serving a population of over 2 million people. It is the
busiest air ambulance service in the UK performing between 120 and
150 missions every month and currently operates AW109 Power and
Grand helicopters from its Coventry Airport and East Midlands
Airport bases. The WNAA is one of only a few UK air ambulances that
carries a doctor onboard in addition to a paramedic bringing
hospital treatment to seriously ill patients. The WNAA is a
registered charity that receives no government or lottery funding
whatsoever, and relies totally on donations and sponsorship. For
further information please visit www.wnaa.co.uk.