AgustaWestland and Kaigai Aviotech Corporation announced that Kagoshima International Aviation of Japan has taken delivery of a GrandNew light twin helicopter. This aircraft will be used to perform emergency medical service missions in the Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Japan. A ceremony was held in Kagoshima on 26th December 2011, in presence of the Governor of Kagoshima Prefecture and the Mayor of Kagoshima City, to celebrate the entry into service of the aircraft. This purchase is part of the Doctor Heli system programme which is intended to provide modern airborne EMS coverage to all prefectures in Japan.

This handover marks the entrance of the first EMS-configured GrandNew helicopter in the Japanese market and continues the growing success of the GrandNew and AgustaWestland’s other light twin helicopters in Japan. The GrandNew was chosen by the customer after a rigorous and comprehensive evaluation process to ensure it could meet its demanding mission and safety requirements. Kagoshima International Aviation’s GrandNew features a comprehensive EMS configuration with a cabin layout able to accommodate two litters plus medical attendants. Additionally, an AW109 Power in the same EMS cabin configuration will serve as a back-up for the GrandNew’s operation. The GrandNew features the most modern developments in avionics while retaining the Grand’s outstanding performance and features. The GrandNew is the first type certified light twin (CS/JAR/FAR 27) to enter service with a new EFIS featuring Synthetic Vision and the first helicopter in this class that fully complies with the latest advanced global positioning system-based navigation requirements for all weather operations. The GrandNew offers operators unprecedented abilities to exploit the advantages of a helicopter. Orders for more than 300 helicopters from the Grand series have been placed by over 180 customers in almost 40 countries worldwide, to perform many tasks including EMS, SAR, electronic newsgathering, VIP/corporate transport, passenger transport, harbour pilot shuttle, maritime patrol and water pollution monitoring.

Agusta Westland press release