Bigger, Better, More

The capabilities of Leonardo’s AW169 light-intermediate twin-engine helicopter will grow further by dint of the launch of a 5,100 kg (11,243-pound) Increased Gross Weight (IGW) kit and a new 11-seat configuration fully-compliant with the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP) Report 690. Both upgrades will be made available for the helicopter’s skid landing-gear iteration.

The 5,100-kilogram kit for the AW169 skid version, originally developed to meet government and defense requirements for missions the likes of troop transport and combat operations, will handily meet evolving civil and public service market needs by leveraging greater engine and transmission power as well as improved aerodynamics in all conditions and for all applications. Compared with the machine’s standard 4,800-kilogram (10,582-pound) Maximum Take-off Weight limitation, the extra three-hundred-kilograms (661-pounds) available with the 5,100-kilogram IGW kit allows the embarkation of three additional passengers or fuel enough to power the machine for an additional hour of flight-time. Existing operators of the type’s version with skids will be able to retrofit the 5,100-kilogram IGW kit to enhance the capabilities of their respective aircraft.

As an additional option, the AW169’s new 11-seat configuration introduces a new modular fuel-tank system and two additional—six total—Type IV cabin emergency exits. The 11-seat configuration will be available for the skid-fitted version in combination with the 5,100-kilogram IGW kit. The described solution will allow the type to function under the rigors of even the most demanding offshore transport operations while maintaining compliance with established IOGP standards.

The new configuration affords operators a mission radius of up to 75-nautical-miles with 11-passengers—a capability characteristic of intermediate-class helicopters—which is to say those with maximum take-off weights exceeding 5.5-tons—while maintaining operating costs consistent with the light-intermediate helicopter category.

Certification of the IGW increase kit is expected in 2024, while the 11-seat configuration with its new modular fuel-tank is slated for certification in 2026.

Over 320 AW169s are currently on order, with around 170 units thus far delivered from Leonardo’s Vergiate, Italy final-assembly line. To date, the global AW169 fleet has logged north 170,000 flight-hours.

FMI: www.leonardo.com