The Italian Aerospace Information Web
by Aeromedia - corso Giambone 46/18 - 10135 Torino (Italy)
First Bell 430s in Italy
Elitaliana and Free Air, two commercial operators of the Tarquinia based Green Fly group, were awarded a five year contract (ending 2003) to operate the emergency medical service in the Piemonte region. The five helicopters are based respectively at the Turin/Aeritalia, Cuneo and Alessandria airports, as well as the hospitals of Borgosesia and Novara.
The service saw the introduction of the first two Bell 430s in EMS (Emergency Medical Service) configuration to be certified in Italy. I-FREF of Elitaliana and I-FREG of Free Air are used for their task in the Novara ed Alessandria areas.
The other three helicopters sent into Piemonte by Green Fly are Bell 412 models. Green Fly is the Italian dealer for Bell types other than those licence produced by Agusta.
In the picture: Bell 430 I-FREG of Free Air, during an emergency medical mission in the Alessandria area.
(Aeromedia, April 1999)