Mitsui Bussan Aerospace

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Leonardo – Mitsui Bussan Aerospace signs for six AW139 helicopters further strengthening the type’s market leadership in Japan.

Posted by dgualdo on 17/03/2023
Posted in: Leonardo Helicopters NEWS, World Helicopter NEWS. Tagged: , , , , .

PRESS RELEASE – Rome, 16 March 2023 09:22

  • Nearly 70 AW139s in service in Japan to date with over 110,000 flight hours logged performing a wide range of missions 
  • Over 150 helicopters of various models fly in Japan today carrying out law enforcement, emergency medical service, search and rescue, fire-fighting, disaster relief, VIP/corporate transport, electronic news gathering, and maritime utility
  • The AW139 is the bestselling type in its category with nearly 1,300 units sold, more than 290 customers in over 80 nations worldwide 

Mitsui Bussan Aerospace (MBA), the authorised distributor for the Leonardo AW139, AW169 and AW189 helicopter models in Japan, announced with Leonardo orders recently signed for a total of six AW139s, to meet the requirements of various upcoming opportunities in the country. These latest orders confirm the continuous success of the AW139 in Japan with nearly 70 units currently in operation.

The AW139 fleet in the country is rapidly growing with new deliveries following previous and planned orders for end users in the country, which include two aircraft for the Japan Coast Guard (comprising 21 AW139s ordered by this operator) and two for the Japan National Police Agency this year. Moreover, three AW139s will be handed over in 2024 to Ishikawa Prefecture Fire Fighting & Disaster Relief, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure & Transport of Hokuriku, Saitama Prefecture Fire Fighting & Disaster Relief respectively.

The AW139 has proven extremely successful in Japan: today the AW139s in-service in Japan have logged in excess of 110,000 flight hours, performing several utility operations, as well as supporting several prefectures and city authorities. Over 150 helicopters of various types, including the AW139, are in service in Japan, used for a wide range of missions including law enforcement, emergency medical service, search and rescue, fire-fighting, disaster relief, VIP/corporate transport, electronic news gathering, and maritime utility.  

Mitsui Bussan Aerospace Co., Ltd. is a trading company that specialises in aerospace, defence, and security systems. The company imports and sells helicopters, aircraft, space, defence, and security-related equipment, as well as providing related services. Its products include Leonardo’s helicopters, defense machines, aircraft engines, space business and more. The company was founded in 1982 and is based in Tokyo, Japan.

The world’s most important helicopter programme since its certification in 2004 and the bestselling type in its category, the AW139 has logged orders for nearly 1,300 units from more than 290 operators in over 80 countries to date for all missions. The global AW139 fleet has exceeded 3.6 million flight hours logged to date. The type features state-of-the-art avionics with advanced navigation and collision avoidance systems to enhance situational awareness and reduce pilots’ workload, unmatched speed, power margins and overall performance, the widest cabin in its category featuring high modularity for rapid reconfiguration, a unique 60+ min run-dry capable main gear box for enhanced reliability and safety and up to 1,000 certified kits.

Leonardo: Mitsui Bussan Aerospace of Japan signs four-helicopter contract.

Posted by dgualdo on 03/12/2018
Posted in: Leonardo Helicopters NEWS, World Helicopter NEWS. Tagged: , , , , , .

PRESS RELEASE – 30 November 2018.

Leonardo: Mitsui Bussan Aerospace of Japan signs four-helicopter contract.

  • Order by official distributor of the AW169, AW139 and AW189 types in Japan.
  • Leonardo is the leader in the new generation light-intermediate, intermediate and super medium segments.
  • Japan has around 130 Leonardo helicopters performing a wide range of missions.

Leonardo and Mitsui Bussan Aerospace, the official distributor in Japanfor the AW169, AW139 and AW189 helicopter models, announced yesterday a contract for four additional aircraft during an official ceremony held at the Japan Aerospace 2018 exhibition.

This contract further strengthens the partnership between Leonardo and Mitsui, and is a key factor in the continued growth of Leonardo’s fleet in the country where the AW139 is the best-seller in its segment. The AW169 light intermediate and the AW189super medium twin-engine helicopters are the most successful new generation models in their class worldwide, paving the path for a further growth also in Japan.

Last March, Mitsui Bussan Aerospace and Leonardo renewed their Distributorship Agreement for three years. The partners also renewed a Basic Ordering Agreement to increase spare parts stock, further strengthening customer support services.

The AW139 has proven extremely successful in Japan. It performs a number of public utility roles including search and rescue and coast guard duties with the Japan Coast Guard; law enforcement, firefighting and disaster relief with the Japan National Police Agency, Tokyo Metropolitan Police and Fire and Disaster Management Agency; as well as supporting several prefectures and city authorities.

Around 130 Leonardo helicopters of various models are in service in Japan today performing a wide range of missions including law enforcement, emergency medical service, search and rescue, firefighting, disaster relief, VIP/corporate transport, electronic news gathering and naval utility.

Leonardo Japan headquarters, based in Tokyo, has been supporting the company’s growing helicopter business in the Country since 2008. The Japanese turbine helicopter market shows significant potential in the next few decades to replace ageing fleets with modern technology and up to 30 new units could enter the market every year. With nearly 25 years of maintenance services supplied through a growing support network nationwide, also including the forthcoming setup of helicopter MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) capabilities in Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport, Leonardo is set to strengthen the level of service in the future.