Contributor - UK

David Donald

Leonardo is exhibiting at EBACE following the <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2021-10-02/leonardo-launches-luxury-brand-agusta">October launch </a>of the Agusta brand to cover its VIP helicopter services. The name reflects the helicopter division’s roots in the Italian manufacturer that, among other developments, introduced the A109 in the early 1970s. Modern-day AW109 derivatives of that helicopter account for four of the six sales the company announced this week at EBACE 2022. The current designation was adopted in 2000 following the merger of Agusta and Westland in the UK.

 


In addition to showing an AW169 as part of its display (Booth S53), Leonardo announced orders for six more in&nbsp;the VIP/corporate market. The official distributor for the UK and Ireland since 1995, Sloane Aviation, has ordered three AW109 GrandNew light twins to be delivered in the second half of 2023. They will join three more bought in early March. Sales of this single-pilot, IFR-capable helicopter are approaching 260, from the more than 1,700 AW109s sold to date.

 


Another derivative is the AW109 Trekker, which features a fixed-skid undercarriage in place of the fully retractable gear of other versions. A single example, fitted out in VIP configuration, has recently been sold to a private operator in Germany. Delivery is expected by&nbsp;year-end.

 


The other two sales announced at EBACE are for the larger AW139. They are for private operators in Germany and Italy, the German sale representing the first for the type in that country’s VIP/corporate market. Both are due for delivery in early 2023. Around 150 AW139s now fly on private transport, charter, scheduled, and VIP/government services around the world. The type is also popular for aeromedical and offshore work.

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