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All posts for the day March 8th, 2023

Leonardo announces AW09 single engine helicopter contracts and partnership at Heli-Expo 2023 as the programme makes further progress.

Posted by dgualdo on 08/03/2023
Posted in: HAI Heli-Expo 2023 ... Atlanta, GA, Leonardo Helicopters NEWS, World Helicopter NEWS. Tagged: , , , .


PRESS RELEASE – Rome, 08 March 2023

  • Preliminary sales contracts for over 50 AW09 helicopters from customers worldwide, including LATAM, South East Asia, South Africa, Central America, Oceania and Japan
  • Agreement with leading HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) and service provider Metro Aviation to deliver completion, service and training services for the AW09 in the USA
  • Full scale mock-up of the next generation AW09 in its final configuration on stage at Heli-Expo as the programme moves ahead

Leonardo made major announcements at Heli-Expo 2023 (Atlanta, 7-9 March) landing global contracts and signing a key collaboration for the USA market for the AW09 helicopter as the next generation single engine programme moves ahead.

Leonardo has signed preliminary sales contracts for over over 50 units with several customers worldwide including Aero Service Representação in Brazil, Synerjet Latina SA in Colombia, Peru and Chile, Helitech Asia in South East Asia, Safomar in South Africa, Diskopsa for Panama and Guatemala, Heliflite in Oceania Aero Facility in Japan.

In addition, an important Agreement was also signed between Leonardo and Metro Aviation, one of the largest privately-owned HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) operator and service providers in the US. The collaboration between the two companies aims to support the introduction and positioning of the AW09 in the USA and in doing so, benefits from Metro Aviation’s renowned experience and capabilities in the development of Aircraft Interior & STCs (supplemental type certificate), service and training.

Gian Piero Cutillo, MD Leonardo Helicopters, said “What we have announced at Heli-Expo is the culmination of three years’ work through which the AW09 benefited from considerable enhancements and has now reached a final configuration, allowing to offer the level of competitiveness that the market expects. Indeed, the AW09 is generating a very positive response from all geographies around the world. Rotorcraft companies highly welcome the AW09 for its outstanding features and multirole capabilities that represent a significant evolution compared to existing products in this category. The preliminary sales contracts signed provide clear evidence of it. Also, combining our industrial capabilities with Metro Aviation’s extensive and recognized experience in operations and support enhances the AW09 value proposition, providing superior mission capabilities to the operators of this platform in a prime single engine market like USA. “

The AW09 single engine helicopter is this year one of Leonardo’s key highlights at Heli-Expo 2023. The full-scale mock-up of the next generation helicopter in its final configuration is displayed at the Leonardo booth, attracting lots of interest within the rotorcraft community. Acquired three years ago by Leonardo, the AW09 perfectly complements Leonardo’s product range in the Long Light Single segment, introducing an all-new design aircraft to sustain a long-term competitive positioning in this weight category. One of the latest evolutions is the decision to on-board on the AW09 the Arriel 2K engine, the newest member of the Safran renown engine family, in line with the targeted AW09 high supportability and reliability levels.

Bell Secures Wave of Bell 407GXi Sales in the UK and Ireland.

Posted by dgualdo on 08/03/2023
Posted in: Bell Helicopters NEWS, HAI Heli-Expo 2023 ... Atlanta, GA, World Helicopter NEWS.

PRESS RELEASE – Atlanta, GA (March X, 2023) 

Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced the signed purchase agreements for three Bell 407GXi – two in the UK to corporate customers and one in Ireland to Zeus Essential Holding Limited (Zeus), an Irish-owned global packaging solutions company. The signings were announced at HAI Heli-Expo.

Zeus is an innovative packing provider with operations in over 30 countries, including New Zealand, Australia, North America and Europe. The company provides sustainable packing solutions to customers in the industrial and transit, hospitality, retail food service, and agricultural industry.

“As an international business owner, I frequently travel between our locations across Europe and North America. The Bell 407GXi will allow me to manage business needs promptly, all while in a comfortable and reliable aircraft,” said Brian O’Sullivan, owner, Zeus. 

With more than six million flight hours and nearly 1,500 Bell 407s across six continents, the aircraft sets high standards for single-engine aircraft with its advanced technical features.

“In 2022, Bell had a successful year in the UK and Ireland. We are proud to support our customers’ needs and requirements in the region. The Bell 407GXi continues to be the chosen aircraft for corporate and VIP transportation across the world. This aircraft combines comfort and speed all while safely getting passengers to their destinations,” said Patrick Moulay, senior vice president, International Commercial Sales.

The Bell 407GXi is outfitted with the new Rolls-Royce M250-C47E/4 turbine engine equipped with two dual-channel FADECs, delivering exceptional hot and high performance, fuel efficiency and the ability to cruise at 133 kts/246 km/h. Garmin’s G1000H NXi Integrated Flight Deck, complete with high-resolution displays and faster processors, offers increased brightness and clarity, faster startup and map rendering, as well as connectivity to tablets and smartphones.

To find out more about the Bell 407, please visit the Bell product page or visit us this week at our booth during HAI Heli-Expo 2023.

Milestone Signs Lease Agreements with Aramco for Five Helicopters.

Posted by dgualdo on 08/03/2023
Posted in: Airbus Helicopters NEWS, HAI Heli-Expo 2023 ... Atlanta, GA, Leonardo Helicopters NEWS, World Helicopter NEWS. Tagged: , , , , , , .

PRESS RELEASE – ATLANTA, GA – Monday, March 06, 2023

The Milestone Aviation Group Limited (“Milestone”), theglobal leader in helicopter leasing, today announced it has signed lease agreements for five helicopters with Aramco.

The agreements include the placement of three Leonardo AW139 helicopters and two Airbus H145 helicopters. All five aircraft are factory new and will be deployed on critical offshoreoil and gas missions in Saudi Arabia with deliveries scheduled throughout 2023.

Milestone’s relationship with Aramco began in 2016 and the addition of these five units brings Aramco’s total helicopter fleet on lease from Milestone to 35 helicopters. Speaking at HAI Heli-Expo in Atlanta, Michael York, the Head of Emerging Markets, Milestone Aviation, said, “Aramco has pioneered offshore oil and gas helicopter operations in the Middle East for decades and we are honored to support Aramco as their trusted leasing partner, as they continue to expand and modernize their fleet.”