The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) is set to introduce a fifth AW139 helicopter into its fleet. The aircraft is expected to be delivered from Leonardo’s Philadelphia facility in spring 2019 and will be used to perform a range of missions primarily including fire suppression, EMS and SAR.

The LAFD protects more than four million people in America’s second largest city. It is responsible for more than 400 sqm, 106 stations and over 3,200 firefighters. Its work encompasses fire suppression, air ambulance transport, hoist rescues, reconnaissance and mapping, and its fleet is housed at Van Nuys airport.

The existing fleet of four LAFD-owned AW139s has achieved a combined total of at least 7,000 flight hours since the first helicopter entered service in 2008, helping to respond to more than 700 incidents annually. Its AW139s have often been deployed to contest wildfires in southern California, and include a search light, rescue hoist, an advanced water tank for fire suppression, a wire-cutter and a modular cabin interior.