AW169, 2015 opens in the sign of the new 4.5 tons helicopter -PHOTO
After the announcement of the start of full scale production, the expectations on the last born of the Family by AgustaWestland are growing: here are the 120 orders in detail
Perhaps it is still too early to tell, but 2015 promises to be the year of the new AW169 helicopter. The announcement of the start of series production of the new generation helicopter by AgustaWestland, the new star in the 4.5 tons segment has undoubtedly contributed to draw (even more) international attention on Vergiate.
The eyes of the world are in fact already aimed to the next international stage, the HAI Heli Expo 2015. In Orlando, AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, will be called to show the world the Family at its best, and this time the AW169 will be in effect an aircraft in full scale production.
In the photogallery: AW169 in pictures
AGUSTAWESTLAND AW169 ORDERS
There are currently over 120 AW169 has been ordered by more than 50 customers in 20 countries around the world. Applications covered include passenger transport (both executive and private), HEMS, offshore transport, law enforcement duties and newsgathering.
The AW169 has collected the largest number of orders in Europe and Asia, with significant figures in America (both North and South, especially for functions of passenger transport), while the Middle East market is gradually growing even for the AW169.
Among the customers who have chosen the AW169 in Italy, there are Elitaliana (the provider that manages the HEMS in Lazio and Calabria has ordered a total of six helicopter) and Hoverfly (who has optioned one in December 2014 to replace an AS365 with tasks of passenger transport).
In the video: AW169 explained: Product Marketing Lead
AW169: ORDERS IN EUROPE AND THE WORLD
The largest number of AW169s has been ordered by the group Avincis, which in 2011 signed an agreement for 10 helicopters which will be deployed for HEMS. In Europe, the 4.5 tons rotocraft had already been particularly successful in the UK, where it was selected by Starspeed, Sloane, Kent-Surrey-Sussex Air Ambulance, Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance and Specialist Aviation Services. Other orders are also arrived from Norwegian Norsk Luftambulanse.
Among other international customers include Falcon Aviation Services and Dubai Police (both in the UAE), Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust (New Zealand), Weststar (Malaysia), the global lessor LCI, Exclases (Russia), Linfox (Australia), Kaan Air (Turkey), Milestone and Waypoint (global).
The AW169 has good numbers in the Far East, where the helicopter has been optioned by Japanese ITC-Aerospace, Mitsui Bussan and the popular newspaper Asahi Shimbun, while in China it was purchased from Sino-US and BAIC.
