Leonardo announced the signing of a contract for four AW139 twin-engine helicopters with the Miami-Dade County Fire Department. The machines will be used to carry out various missions including, in particular, fire fighting, air ambulance and search and rescue. Special equipment includes recovery winch, barycentric hook and fire bucket. Delivery of the first helicopter from the Leonardo plant in Philadelphia is scheduled for the third quarter of 2020. In addition to the supply of helicopters, the agreement also includes a complete support, maintenance and training package lasting 5 years, with the possibility of a further extension for a total of 15 years.

"The safety of our intervention teams and the well-being of the residents are our priority. For this reason, the high safety standards of Leonardo's helicopters were a key factor in choosing our County", he has declared the mayor of Miami-Dade, Carlos A. Gimenez. "The decision was also affected by other important requirements, including the competitiveness of the offer, the training services and the support that we will receive with the introduction of this world-leading product".

Located in the southeastern area of ​​the Florida peninsula, Miami-Dade is the most populous county in the state. It includes an area of ​​over 2.000 square miles with one third of the territory located in the Everglades National Park. Furthermore, thanks to his skills, the Miami-Dade Fire Department is often asked to intervene in support of neighboring counties, including Monroe, Collier, Broward and Lee.

With the celebration of the delivery of the thousandth machine that took place in September this year, the AW139 confirms itself as the world's most successful helicopter program of the last 15 years. With over 280 customers in more than 70 countries, the AW139 saves lives and guarantees the safety of people every day and in every corner of the world.

In the United States, AW139 counts, among others, clients such as the Los Angeles Fire Department and the New Jersey and Maryland Police Departments. Also the US Air Force (USAF) will introduce, to replace the UH-1N fleet, the Boeing MH-139, helicopter based on the AW139. The AW139 is used for fire-fighting, rescue and public order tasks in various countries around the world, including Italy, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea and Australia, just to name a few.