Story ID: 
China Orders Six More Leonardo AW189s
By: Mark Huber
Caption: Leonardo will deliver six AW189s to China’s Rescue and Salvage Bureau of Ministry of Transport 
Word Count: 205
Leonardo Helicopters will deliver six AW189s next year to the Rescue and Salvage Bureau of China's Ministry of Transport (MOT CRS) for search-and-rescue operations. The deal follows the November announcement of a contract for two of the super-medium twin-engine helicopters from Beijing’s Municipal Public Security Bureau.

MOT CRS currently operates 20 helicopters across eight bases along China’s coastline. The AW189s will extend its SAR mission radius to 200 nm. MOT CRS is China's only national maritime professional rescue-and-salvage force. Its missions include emergency response to maritime accidents; rescue of people, ships, and property; salvage of sunken ships and wreckages; and oil-spill cleanups.

“We are happy to contribute to this crucial lifesaving program,” said Gian Piero Cutillo, Leonardo Helicopters’ managing director. “The AW189 will deliver long-range search and rescue in demanding maritime environment conditions.”

The AW189 is available with more than 200 certified kits, and more than 100 of the helicopters are on order for a range of missions. Standard features include the main transmission’s ability to run without oil for 50 minutes and a built-in auxiliary power unit. More than 200 Leonardo civil helicopters of various types have been sold to Chinese operators for commercial and public services.