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Leonardo grants approved status to Sydney training centre

written by Adam Thorn | January 14, 2021

Leonardo has granted a Sydney-based training centre its own authorised status, making it formally part of the aerospace giant’s network.

The partnership means ACE Training Centre can now offer new AW139 training packages alongside a Leonardo-approved full flight simulator and syllabus.

Colin Gunn, the general manager of centre owner Toll Helicopters hailed the “ground-breaking partnership”.

“We are committed to playing a part in the ongoing success of the AW139 program,” said Gunn.

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The ACE Training Centre was only established in 2016 in partnership with NSW Ambulance initially to deliver training for the Toll Ambulance Rescue Helicopters’ aeromedical crew.

Leonardo estimates there are more than 300 AW139s flying today in Australasia and almost 60 are in service in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea for rescue and public service duties.

Paolo Petrosso, Leonardo Helicopter’s VP of simulation and training services, said, “Under the current circumstances, and in alignment with our promise to remain close to our customers, we take great pride in this step of accrediting Toll as a Leonardo Authorized Training Centre for the AW139 Type Rating and Recurrent training, reinforcing our continuous commitment to take care of our customers and make learning accessible to them wherever they are located, be it through our virtual platform or physical network of Training Centres within which we are thrilled to now include Toll.”

Last month, Australian Aviation reported how RACQ LifeFlight unveiled its new AW139, which it claimed to have adapted to work in “extreme conditions”.

The Special Mission helicopter features “Forward-Looking Infra-Red” (FLIR) tech to spot heat sources from over water, can hover at 50 feet and “lock on” to moving survivors caught in a tide.

VH-XIA, msn 31590, will be based at the aeromedical helicopter operator’s Archerfield West facility in Brisbane.

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