AW09

All posts tagged AW09

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.

Leonardo and Safran partner for AW09 single-engine helicopter propulsion system.

Posted by dgualdo on 27/01/2023
Posted in: Italian Helicopter NEWS, Leonardo Helicopters NEWS. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

PRESS RELEASE – Rome/Bordes,  26 January 2023

  • The production configuration of the next generation single-engine helicopter will be powered by the Arriel 2K engine, the latest version of the Arriel family.
  • The AW09 will leverage the proven technology and reliability of this engine family together with innovative and efficient global support solutions to respond to current and future single-engine market expectations.
  • The latest AW09 prototype, PS4, is about to start flight test activities with the Arriel 2K engine at Kopter’s facility in Mollis (Switzerland).

Leonardo and Safran Helicopter Engines announced today they have joined forces to further enhance the capabilities and competitiveness of the next generation AW09 single-engine helicopter.

The production aircraft will feature the 1,000 shp class of power Arriel 2K engine, the newest generation of the Arriel family. 

The selection of the new engine guarantees the most efficient level of industrialization, global supply and supportability for customers. The combined Leonardo and Safran Helicopter Engines support network will provide innovative, simplified and competitive maintenance solutions and cost of operations, sustained by tailored service plans and SBH® (Support-By-the-Hour) contracts as well as a large range of digital services. 

Leonardo and Safran Helicopter Engines boast a longstanding and now further expanding partnership spanning from propulsion systems for light twins up to super medium class helicopters. The two companies also share now the highest level of interest and commitment for the single-engine commercial market and its future evolution.

Gian Piero Cutillo, MD of Leonardo Helicopters, said: “Since the integration of Kopter into our organization and the introduction of the AW09 into our product range, we have firmly maintained our commitment to deliver to the market exactly what it expects from a single engine of the latest standards backed by an efficient and responsive global support network. The decision to select this propulsion system is totally consistent with this strategy and we look forward to working with our partner to bring the most modern single engine on the commercial market.” 

Franck Saudo, Safran Helicopter Engines CEO, commented: “We are proud that Leonardo has placed its trust once again in Safran Helicopter Engines to power its latest light helicopter. We will bring to the AW09 our strong expertise in single-engine helicopter applications together with the specific features of the engine. The Arriel 2K engine is the latest version of the well-known Arriel engine family and will clearly bring high level of capability, reliability and ease of operations to the AW09.”

The new propulsion system is already installed on the latest AW09 prototype, PS4 (Pre Series 4), which is about to start flight test activities at Kopter’s facility in Mollis. PS4 includes all developments implemented and tested on P3, the previous prototype, allowing to reach the AW09 final configuration. PS5, the next and final prototype is planned to follow later in 2023. 

The AW09 programme performed major steps forward in 2022 in parallel to the integration of the production propulsion system, including flying the new & final main rotor blades and agreeing the type certification basis with EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency). 

The AW09 will continue to be developed by Kopter in Switzerland with the contribution of joint Leonardo-Kopter teams. Kopter is set to become a Centre of Competence for new light helicopters and an incubator of new technologies for vertical flight. As such, it will contribute to the development of new hybrid and electrical propulsion systems and will play an important role in the framework of Leonardo’s Be Tomorrow 2030 strategic plan, which aims to be in the leading position on the civil rotorcraft market and modern air mobility. 

The single-engine AW09 offers increased modularity, modern electronic systems, high digitalization and the largest cabin and cargo hold in its category. Its superior characteristics – including fast cruise speeds and hot-and-high capabilities – are combined with a low noise signature resulting from the newly-developed dynamic assembly and shrouded tail-rotor.

Safran Helicopter Engines is the propulsion market leader for single-engine helicopters. The Arriel is one of Safran’s best sellers with over 15 000 engines in operation. Every day the engine enhances its reputation as a safe and reliable partner, especially for operators flying demanding EMS, search and rescue, law enforcement, maritime surveillance missions and aerial work.

Leonardo & Kopter took part in the Hunter Association’s event in Mollis.

Posted by dgualdo on 10/09/2021
Posted in: Italian Helicopter NEWS, Leonardo Helicopters NEWS, World Helicopter NEWS. Tagged: , , , , , , .

PRESS RELEASE – 07 September 2021

  • Presentation of the AW189 and AW09 helicopters
  • Underlining Leonardo Helicopters’ commitment to Switzerland, Glarus and its local communities

Leonardo, the owner of Kopter since April 2020, participated on the 4th of September in the 5th anniversary celebration of the Hunterverein at Mollis airfield showcasing on static and flight display an AW189 super medium helicopter from its Training Academy.

The AW189 is the largest type in the AW Family, reaching a gross weight of up to 8.6 tonnes and combining superior payload and range at competitive cost for a wide range of missions.

Along the AW189, Leonardo and Kopter exhibited the AW09, the new generation single-engine high-performance helicopter currently under development at the Kopter facilities in Switzerland.

“It is a great pleasure for us to present on top of our AW09 that people in Switzerland know well, another great model of Leonardo’s helicopter product range, the AW189. We would like to sincerely thank the Hunterverein for the invitation. We are very much looking forward to meeting the representatives of the hosting municipality, the Canton of Glarus and the Swiss Federation,” explains Paul de Jonge, Head of Marketing at Leonardo Helicopters. “We are very proud to have added Switzerland to Leonardo Helicopter’s domestic markets and to develop our presence in the country through Kopter that is set to become our center of excellence for new light helicopters.”

Kopter will indeed play a key role within Leonardo, first with the AW09 and then strongly contributing to study and develop innovative technologies, through projects focusing on noise optimisation and hybrid/electric propulsion.

Leonardo welcomes Kopter’s SH09 into its helicopter portfolio as the AW09.

Posted by dgualdo on 21/04/2021
Posted in: Leonardo Helicopters NEWS, World Helicopter NEWS. Tagged: , , , , , , , .
  • The new designation fully identifies the product as a Leonardo helicopter model while preserving its modern and distinguished features
  • The P3 prototype has now logged over 40 flight hours in its new configuration, with the PS4 expected to fly this year, followed by the PS5
  • Kopter is set to become a Centre of Competence for light helicopters and new rotorcraft technologies

PRESS RELEASE – Rome, 21 April 2021

One year after completing the acquisition of the Swiss Company KopterGroup AG (Kopter), Leonardo welcomes the SH09 single-engine helicopter as a full member of its product range by rebranding it as the AW09.

This step synergizes the two identities of Leonardo and Kopter. The AW09 perfectly complements the existing product range of Leonardo, allowing the Company to increase its share in the strategic single-engine market, which is one of the largest and most dynamic segments worldwide.

Furthermore, the AW09, brings next generation performance, demonstrates Leonardo’s innovation leadership within industry as the helicopter features the latest safety standards and most advanced technologies and this will pave the path for further advancements in vertical flight. Gian Piero Cutillo, Leonardo Helicopters MD, said: “The product with the people and their skills were all important reasons for the acquisition of Kopter. As we make the Kopter team part of our family through the ongoing integration, we now have the latest addition to our product range fully identified with Leonardo, while preserving its invaluable distinguished features. With the AW09, we’re more than ever fully committed to pursuing a revolution in the single-engine market and setting an all-new standard.”

The AW09 will continue to be developed by Kopter in Switzerland. The programme progresses further with the contribution of joint Leonardo-Kopter teams. The third prototype (P3) has now logged in excess of 40 flight hours in Switzerland since mid-January in its new configuration. This includes enhancements in the main rotor head, gearbox, an extended rotor mast and a new design of the flight controls, combined with the modern Garmin G3000H cockpit. All of this brings even better flight characteristics, performance and ease of maintenance. The AW09 next prototype, PS4, is expected to fly this year, followed by the PS5.

Kopter is set to become a Centre of Competence for new light helicopters and an incubator of new technologies for vertical flight. As such, it will contribute to the development of new hybrid and electrical propulsion systems and will play an important role in the framework of Leonardo’s Be Tomorrow 2030 strategic plan, which aims to be in the leading position on the civil rotorcraft market and modern air mobility. The single-engine, turbine-powered AW09 offers increased modularity, modern electronic systems, high digitalization and the largest cabin and cargo hold in its category. Outstanding characteristics – including fast cruise speeds and excellent hot-andhigh capabilities – are combined with a low noise signature resulting from the newly-developed dynamic assembly and shrouded tail-rotor.