Evaluating the AW-139 for Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR)

The International Test Pilots School maintains strong links with industry flight test centres. A long-standing partner has been the Leonardo Helicopters Flight Test Department at Cascina Costa in Italy. Several highly successful flight test exercises have been held at Leonardo over the years and the latest members of the 2023 CAT-1 Rotary Wing Flight Test Course conducted their final project in Italy.

Supervised by ITPS Instructor Amit Alfia-Shelef, the team was tasked with evaluating the AW-139 for the Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) role. The team successfully planned and executed the test campaign and was assisted in no small measure thanks to the outstanding support of the Leonardo Helicopters Flight Test department.

Our special thanks to Test Pilot Gianfranco Cito and Lead Flight Test Engineer Antonio de la Mata Chico for the excellent collaboration!