Optimistic About The Future At Heli-Exop 2010

AgustaWestland CEO Giuseppe Orsi spoke to reporters at the 2010 Heli-Expo earlier this week, offering an optimistic view of the industry, and the company's future.

"Despite the crisis, 2009 has been a great year for us. Great in terms of results," Orsi said. "As you know Finmeccanica will issue our 2009 figures at the beginning of March nevertheless they have been according to our expectation with a further growth compared to 2008, in turn the best year ever for AgustaWestland. Great in terms of accomplishments, which position us in the best way towards the future."

Orsi cited the acquisition of PZL Swidnik, an agreement with Tata Sons, giving them entrée to the Indian market, and the announcement of a joint venture with Oboromprom, which will introduce the AW139 (file photo below) into the Russian makrket as examples of the company's successful globalization efforts. "Through the opening of multiple regional business headquarters in various countries we are ready to pursue new business opportunities globally," he said. "Our latest addition to this network is represented by AgustaWestland Portugal and, more recently, AgustaWestland Spain."

Orsi said AgustaWestland has claimed a 40% market share in the medium twin helicopter category, with the AW139 performing very well in the offshore oil and gas sector, and that lighter helicopters such as the AW109 were popular in the Corporate/VIP and air ambulance sectors.

Looking towards the future, Orsi said the company has taken maiden flights with four new helicopters, the T129, the new variant of the AW101, the AW159 and the AW149 in less than three months by the end of 2009. Company has also been granted full ice system certification for the AW139.

Finally Orsi said AgustaWestland is anlyzing the Request for Information (RFI) on the U.S. military's VXX program, and believes the AW101 (file photo below) would best fill that role. But the company has not yet determined whether it will respond to the RFI.

"Vertical flight has tremendous opportunities for the future: technologies are being developed which will eventually lead to vertical take-off and landing aircraft which can fly fast and high, and thus become a significant player in the immense world of mass air transportation," Orsi concluded. "As I said many times, also in my position of the senior CEO of our industry, we must be ready to take this challenge, otherwise others will do it before us."

FMI: www.agustawestland.com