Leonardo: Miami-Dade County Fire Department receives first AW139

(To Leonardo)
14/10/20

Leonardo today announced the delivery of the first AW139 helicopter destined for Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR), the Miami-Dade County Fire Department. The ceremony organized for the occasion at the Miami Executive Airport (TMB) yesterday was attended by representatives of the institutions of the County, including Mayor Carlos A. Giménez.
“Based on my previous experience as a firefighter, I was impressed with this extraordinary search and rescue helicopter,” said Mayor Giménez.

“By replacing outdated helicopters, the AW139 becomes an essential tool for the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue fleet. It will provide a greater level of security for our staff and for all those who benefit from its work ”.

The Fire Department ordered four AW139 helicopters in December 2019 for firefighting, emergency medical transport, and search and rescue. Each helicopter is equipped with a center of gravity hook, recovery winch and fire bucket. The three remaining AW139s will be delivered by the end of the year.

The Fire Department protects the people, property and environment of Miami-Dade County by providing efficient and highly professional humanitarian assistance services essential to public health, safety and the well-being of the community. The Department operates through 71 intervention stations serving 29 cities. The wide range of operational duties that distinguish it allows the Department's Air Service to also provide support to neighboring counties including Monroe, Collier, Broward and Lee.

Miami-Dade is the largest county in Florida by population with over 2,7 million citizens in a territory of over 2000 square miles (therefore larger than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware). From coral reefs to wetlands, the distinctive tropical climate makes this area unique from any other territory in the United States.

With over 1000 machines delivered to date, the AW139 is the most successful helicopter program in the world for the past 15 years. Over 280 operators in more than 70 countries deployed the AW139 for a wide range of missions including firefighting, emergency medical transport, search and rescue, security / public order, energy sector support, private transport. Leonardo is committed to supporting and protecting people and communities around the world, contributing to their sustainable growth thanks to its leadership in next generation technologies. The collaboration with governments, with private parties and in the industrial sector aimed at offering the best capabilities for safety is one of the foundations of the Company's Be Tomorrow 2030 Strategic Plan.

In the United States, AW139 customers include the Los Angeles Fire Department, the New Jersey and Maryland Police Departments, among others. The US Air Force (USAF) will soon introduce the AW139-based Boeing MH-139 to replace its UH-1N fleet.