Era Helicopters to help develop EMS role for AW609

Finmeccanica Helicopter Division and Era Group Inc will jointly develop an Emergency Medical Service variant of the AgustaWestland AW609 TiltRotor. Era is a major customer of AgustaWestland helicopters, both as an operator and a lessor.

Following the fatal October 2015 crash of the AW609 prototype, Finmeccanica say there is only one aircraft currently flying. Two more are in various stages of construction – one in Italy and one at the company plant in Philadelphia.

Bristow Helicopters are also jointly working with Finmeccanica to develop an offshore support and SAR operational role variant of the AW609.

The company say their role in the project included addressing concepts around operations, regulations, maintenance, configuration optimization, as well as identifying possible areas of enhancement or modifications.