Leonardo revealed an acquisition today for three AW139 medium twin-engine helicopters for Monroe County in Florida. These aircraft will be operated by Trauma Star, a collaborative initiative between Monroe County Fire Rescue and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, providing aerial ambulance assistance across the Florida Keys, starting from Lower Keys Medical Center and the Florida Keys Marathon International Airport. The AW139s are set for delivery from Leonardo’s FAA-Certified Part 21 Production Facility located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, between late 2024 and early 2025, after which they will undergo specialized mission customization to supplant the County’s current fleet.
“A comprehensive search for a substitute aircraft was conducted to modernize Trauma Star’s outdated fleet of Sikorsky S76 helicopters with a more recent, manufacturer-supported model. The objective was to find an aircraft that would enhance operational cost-effectiveness and minimize downtime associated with unplanned maintenance. The AW139 is the sole aircraft available that aligns with Trauma Star’s mission requirements, capable of covering the necessary range, transporting our payloads, and utilizing our existing landing zones,” stated Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay.
Monroe County is the southernmost county in Florida and the entire United States, encompassing Key West, Marathon, Key Colony Beach, Layton, and Islamorada. The county spans 3,737 square miles, with 73% consisting of water, and includes significant portions of the Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve.
“We are privileged to initiate our long-term association with Monroe County, and we are optimistic that the AW139 will equip Trauma Star with the capabilities required to safely and efficiently rescue and transport patients in Southern Florida,” said Clyde Woltman, Chief Executive Officer of Leonardo Helicopters US.
The acquisition further underscores the AW139’s stature as the helicopter of choice for EMS and SAR missions worldwide within its classification, along with its expanding footprint within the USA, particularly among public service operators. With nearly 400 helicopters serving civil, parapublic, and military sectors engaged in emergency and disaster response operations globally, the AW139’s rescue-configured fleet has accumulated over 900,000 flight hours to date, out of a total of 3.7 million flight hours for all missions. The AW139 is already operational for similar tasks in the USA within a mix of law enforcement, EMS, disaster response, and firefighting on behalf of local governments, notably in regions such as Florida, New Jersey, Maryland, and California.
With over 1,300 units sold and more than 1,100 active for over 280 clients across approximately 90 countries, the AW139 offers exceptional capabilities, technology, and safety to meet demanding standards from operators for operations in challenging conditions, maximizing effectiveness. This model integrates cutting-edge avionics with advanced navigation and collision prevention systems to enhance situational awareness and reduce pilots’ workload, unparalleled speed, power reserve, and overall performance; the widest cabin in its category with high modularity for swift reconfiguration; a unique main gearbox capable of over 60 minutes run-dry for augmented reliability and safety; and a broad array of certified mission kits.
