CAREFLITE ORDERS ADDITIONAL HELICOPTER

           CareFlite Dallas/Fort Worth Orders An AgustaWestland AW109 Power Helicopter

AgustaWestland is pleased to announce that CareFlite Dallas/Fort Worth has ordered another AW109 Power light twin turbine helicopter. This purchase adds to the five AW109 Powers ordered in 2001 and further expands CareFlite’s fleet dedicated to emergency medical service purposes. Speaking on behalf of CareFlite, President and CEO James Swartz stated “This latest contract further confirms the reliance CareFlite, as a leading US air medical operator servicing a major metropolitan area, places upon the exceptional performance, operational economies, support and EMS capabilities of the AW109 Power. AgustaWestland’s AW109 meets and exceeds our load and range requirements while adding superior single engine performance. Its unequalled maximum and cruise speed facilitates an expeditious response to CareFlite’s medical emergencies when seconds are critical.”

Pictured Above (L to R) Eric Crawford - Agusta Account Executive, James C. Swartz – CareFlite President & CEO, Louis Bartolotta – Agusta Westland Executive VP of Sales, and Bob Cleland -  Agusta Westland Director of Sales

Louis Bartolotta, AgustaWestland’s Executive VP of Sales, stated “This AW109 Power is testimony to both the strong relationship we have had with CareFlite Dallas over the past 7 years and will continue to enjoy into the future, and the high level of critical care services that they will be able to provide the Dallas-Ft. Worth metropolitan area. We remain honoured to assist in the provision of that care.” CareFlite’s AW109 Power is certified for single pilot IFR operations and powered by twin Pratt & Whitney 206C engines. AgustaWestland provided CareFlite’s aeromedical configuration to accommodate two litter patients and three attendants. For maximum flexibility the primary litter is a Life Port pivoting system. Both single litter and dual litter configurations allow full body access to patients.

A Dallas-Ft. Worth based rapid response air and group ambulance/911 EMS operator, CareFlite is one of the premier helicopter air medical operations in the United States . CareFlite is a 501(c)3 non-profit company sponsored by the Baylor Health Care System, JPS Health Network, Methodist Health System, Parkland Health and Hospital System, and Texas Health Resources (Arlington Memorial, Harris Methodist and Presbyterian Hospitals). The oldest joint use helicopter medical transport program in the United States , over 75,000 patients have been airlifted by CareFlite since the company’s founding in 1979. Plus CareFlite is the only service in North Texas that operates under instrument flight rules during times of bad weather. The company has 17 GPS approaches to North Texas hospitals. This permits the rapid transport of patients to critical care facilities despite the weather. CareFlite's EMS helicopters serve more than 100 counties within a 150-mile radius of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. The company also provides fixed wing air ambulance service for transports beyond the range of its helicopter fleet and an extensive ground ambulance/911 system. CareFlite is accredited by CAMTS, the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems.