AgustaWestland unveils the DA VINCI project helicopter

AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, has unveiled the DA VINCI helicopter to Swiss air-rescue operator REGA during an official ceremony held at AgustaWestland's Vergiate plant on March 4th. The DA VINCI is a modern top-of-the-range light twin specifically developed from the highly successful AgustaWestland Grand to meet REGA's DA VINCI project requirements for a mountain rescue and air-ambulance helicopter.

The DA VINCI project was aimed at selecting a light twin aircraft capable to perform high altitude rescue missions as well as the rapid hospital-to-hospital transfer of severely injured patients and providing them with specialised medical treatment in flight. The customer selected the specifically developed DA VINCI project helicopter in late 2006 following an extensive evaluation process and subsequently placed an order for eleven aircraft plus four options.

Renzo Lunardi, Senior Vice President Commercial Business Unit, AgustaWestland said "We are proud to have presented this brand new variant to our customer. The development of the DA VINCI is an example of AgustaWestland developing an advanced tailored solution to meet a customer's demanding requirements. We are delighted to continue our long relationship with REGA, one of the world's premier rescue organisations, knowing that the DA VINCI will allow it to perform its mission successfully."

The high performance DA VINCI features a large cabin providing the space only found in larger and more expensive helicopters. The DA VINCI can get to the casualty quicker than competing helicopters saving vital minutes on the time it takes to get the casualty to hospital and the aircraft is provided with a special Emergency Medical Service (EMS) interior developed by REGA and Aerolite.

The DA VINCI helicopter's state-of-the-art avionics, totally developed by AgustaWestland, includes a dual duplex four axis digital Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS), Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS) with an embedded Flight Management System, 3D Synthetic Vision & Terrain Awareness Warning System (TAWS) embedded into the EFIS, a Radio Management System (RMS) with radio tuning unit for communication and navigation, an Euronav V digital map and an Enhanced Vision System (EVS). The helicopter is also equipped for single pilot VFR operations and a Night Vision Goggle (NVG) compatible cockpit.

REGA is acknowledge as one of the most experienced air-rescue organisation worldwide and its choice provides further testimony of the AgustaWestland's capability to satisfy the most challenging customer needs. The DA VINCI project helicopter is an ideal successor to the A109K2 selected by REGA in 1989 and it will ensure a quantum leap forward in mission effectiveness and responsiveness to meet 21st century mountain rescue requirements.