U.S. EMS operator Life Link III has ordered two more Leonardo helicopters, including the first AW109 Trekker light twin for the U.S. air ambulance market. The order also includes an AW169 medium twin. These helicopters are scheduled to deliver in the fourth quarter of next year and will boost Life Link III’s Leonardo fleet to 14 aircraft.
The deal follows Life Link’s III’s July order for the first AW119Kx IFR-equipped single for the civil market. That aircraft is expected to be delivered in the third quarter of 2021. The air ambulance company operates in Minnesota and Wisconsin and will be the first to fly a mixed fleet of IFR AW119Kx and AW109 Trekker helicopters. Life Link III’s Trekker will be equipped with night vision goggles and will be single pilot IFR (SPIFR) capable. The ordered AW169 will be equipped with a certified EMS interior that provides 360-degree patient access.
Leonardo currently has 110 of its helicopters in service across the U.S. EMS fleet, which includes AW119s, AW109s, AW169s, and AW139s. Orders for nearly AW169s have been placed worldwide from customers. To date, more than 70 AW109 Trekkers have been sold to customers worldwide for a range of roles, and more than 1,500 AW109-series helicopters have been sold globally.