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AW109 Trekker FAA certification

Leonardo’s AW109 Trekker light twin engine helicopter has been issued with type certification by FAA, allowing the light twin helicopter to enter the U.S. market. The company describes the AW109 Trekker as the fastest light twin for quick law enforcement and rescue intervention, as well as the only helicopter in its class to feature a cabin allowing full patient body accessibility for EMS missions.

Leonardo maintains that North America holds the largest potential EMS market for light twins based on the number of in-service fleets that need replacement. Previous variants of the AW109s have a strong position in North America for VIP, Emergency Medical Service, utility and homeland security roles.

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The AW109 Trekker maintains the AW109 Grand airframe (large cabin) with a greater payload. It is the company’s first light twin to offer skid landing gear and it leverages a Genesys Aerosystems glass cockpit. Power is provided by two FADEC equipped Pratt & Whitney Canada PW207C turbine engines.

The cabin, according to Leonardo, can accommodate up to six passengers or one stretcher with three/four medical attendants or two stretchers and two medical attendants. The AW109 Trekker incorporates a cocoon-type airframe; crash resistant fuel system, crew and passenger seats, full Cat. A / Class 1 performance in hot environments and a 30-minute run-dry main gear box.

A range of role equipment is available including a cargo hook, external rescue hoist, searchlight, external loudspeakers, FLIR (Forward Looking Infra-Red) camera, video downlink, snow skis and emergency floats, as well as a range of interior layouts to meet various customers’ operational requirements.