Today, May the 12th, Wayne Grant was at Ardmore and snapped the Augusta AW169 ZK-IRB3 c/n 69136 taxying around.
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First flown by Leonardo, Italy, using the oft used test registration of I-EASV before shifting over to the Agustwestland Philadelphia Corporation in Pennsylvania to be certified as N269LL on 10-08-2021.
It was then listed to Critical Care Services Inc of Bloomington, Minnesota from 14-02-2022 and went online with Life Link as “Life Link III’.
Its US registration was cancelled on 16-10-2024 and was sold through Rotortrade to New Zealand.
Above is N269LL as ‘Life Link III’
Rotortrade announced the sale of a pre-owned Leonardo AW169 helicopter to Northern Rescue Helicopter for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) operations in New Zealand, as part of its plan to operate a fleet of five aircraft by 2025.
Northern Rescue Helicopters Ltd is a joint venture between AHRT and NEST to provide medical services in the northern region of New Zealand.
The AW169, purchased from the United States, will enhance Northern Rescue’s ability to respond to medical and injury-related emergencies with state-of-the-art capabilities and avionics systems. The transaction, which began 5 months ago, was managed by Rotortrade’s team in the APAC region, led by Aurélien Blanc, Head of Region APAC, and his deputy Marcello Corrado Salati, and in the USA, led by Bob Brant, Head of Region North America, and Paul Desagneaux, Sales Manager for the Northeast USA – alongside Ian MacPherson, CEO of Northern Rescue Helicopter Ltd.
The deal was facilitated with the support of the New Zealand government agencies- Health New Zealand/Te Whatu Ora and the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), ensuring a smooth acquisition process and timely deployment of the aircraft.
Ian MacPherson, CEO of Northern Rescue Helicopter said “We are excited to continue upgrading our fleet with the addition of another AW169.
Rotortrade has been a reliable and flexible partner throughout this process. Their supportive approach and dedication to delivering the right aircraft for our needs have been invaluable, allowing us to strengthen our operations with confidence and meet the growing demand for emergency medical and injury-related services in New Zealand. “I also want to acknowledge the support throughout the process from Health New Zealand, ACC, our sponsors and my senior leadership team.”
Aurélien Blanc expressed his gratitude to the team at Northern Rescue Helicopter and its CEO, Ian MacPherson, for their trust and collaboration. “We are honoured to have partnered with Northern Rescue Helicopter in this important project. I would like to extend a special thank you to Ian MacPherson for his leadership throughout this process. It has been a privilege working with such a dedicated team committed to enhancing emergency air ambulance helicopter services in New Zealand.”
Marcello Corrado Salati, added heartfelt thanks to the New Zealand government agencies that made this transaction possible through their unwavering support. “The efforts and commitment from the New Zealand government have been instrumental in ensuring the success of this acquisition. Their dedication to improving air ambulance operations across the country is truly commendable, and we are grateful for their partnership in this endeavour.”
