Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) has taken delivery of its first Leonardo AW139 intermediate twin helicopter, one of four it ordered in December 2019. The remaining three aircraft are expected to be delivered by year-end.
MDFR’s AW139s will be used for fire suppression, emergency medical services, and search and rescue missions. Each helicopter features a cargo hook, rescue hoist, and Bambi bucket. “As a former firefighter, I’ve been very impressed with this search-and-rescue helicopter,” mayor Carlos Giménez said. “The AW139s are vital additions to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s fleet. They will provide a heightened level of safety and security for our fire rescue workers and those whose lives they work to save.”
MDFR operates 71 fire-rescue stations within unincorporated Miami-Dade County and serves 29 municipalities. Miami-Dade Air Rescue frequently provides mutual aid support to neighboring counties, including Monroe, Collier, Broward, and Lee.
More than 1,000 AW139s have been delivered to 280 operators in some 70 countries within the last 15 years. The helicopters fly a wide variety of missions, including fire suppression, emergency medical service, search and rescue, security/ law enforcement, energy services, and private transport. In the U.S., AW139 customers include the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) and the New Jersey and Maryland state police departments. The US Air Force (USAF) will also soon introduce the AW139-based Boeing MH-139 to replace its Bell UH-1N fleet.