26-Jan-2011 Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the Zhejiang Public Security Bureau in China has placed an order for two helicopters comprising one AW119Ke single engine and one AW139 medium twin engine helicopter. The helicopters will be used for law enforcement and fire fighting duties.
These two AgustaWestland helicopters were selected to serve the Zhejiang community after a rigorous and comprehensive evaluation process for their outstanding performance, operational capabilities, safety and ease of maintenance.
Fulvio Maurogiovanni, Head of Region for China, AgustaWestland said “We are delighted the Zhejiang Public Security Bureau has chosen these two models to enhance its operational capabilities. This contract expands the presence of AgustaWestland helicopters in China and confirms AgustaWestland as the market leader in the Chinese law enforcement and public service markets.â€
This sale marks further success for AgustaWestland in the Chinese law enforcement and public security market, where it has become the market leader with sales of AW119Ke, AW109 Power and AW139 models. Law enforcement operators in China using AgustaWestland helicopters include Shenzhen, Beijing, Nanning, Zhengzhou and Dalian Public Security Bureaus as well as the Guanxi Province.
The 8-seat AW119Ke is the top-of-the-range helicopter in the single engine market and has excellent performance even in extremely hot and high operating environments. Over 190 AW119 helicopters have been ordered to date in around 30 countries by more than 90 customers. The AW119Ke is ideally suited to perform a wide range of tasks including law enforcement, utility, fire-fighting, EMS, VIP/corporate transport and offshore transport.
The AW139 has the largest cabin in its weight class and has large sliding cabin doors to enable easy and quick access. The cabin also allows easy configuration changes between roles to meet operational requirements. With a maximum speed of 167 knots (306 kph) and excellent range and endurance the AW139 can be quickly deployed to any crime scene or accident location. The integrated avionic system provides the basis for managing the sensors and comprehensive communications suite required for the law enforcement role. Almost 500 AW139s have been sold in around 50 countries to nearly 140 customers for various roles including law enforcement, fire fighting, offshore transport, search and rescue, emergency medical service, disaster relief, and VIP/corporate transport.