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AgustaWestland says Australian ambulance service to use its AW139

AgustaWestland's AW139 helicopters are to perform emergency medical service missions in Australia.

By Richard Tomkins
An AW139 performing search and rescue work in Italy. (CC/JBarcena)
An AW139 performing search and rescue work in Italy. (CC/JBarcena)

ROME, July 8 (UPI) -- Anglo-Italian helicopter manufacturer AgustaWestland reports its AW139 intermediate twin-engine aircraft will be used for emergency medical missions in Australia.

Use of six AW139s comes under a 10-year contract with Ambulance Victoria, part of the Avincis Group, provides mission-critical helicopter support for emergency medical services, search and rescue, surveillance operations and law enforcement.

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AgustaWestland said the helicopters will enter service in the state of Victoria in 2016, operating from four airports.

The aircraft can carry 15 people. It has a maximum speed of 193 mph, a range of 675 miles and an endurance of nearly six hours.

The cockpit of the aircraft features a fully integrated avionics package, a 4-axis digital AFCS and large flat panel color displays.

More than 200 government and commercial entities have ordered the aircraft.

Additional details of the contract between AgustaWestland and Ambulance Victoria were not disclosed.

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