Helo Heading For Brazil After Show

AgustaWestland announced Tuesday at the Paris Air Show the delivery of its 100th AW139 medium-twin helicopter. The aircraft was handed over to Synergy Aerospace, a division of Synergy Group. The aircraft will be delivered to Brazil after the Air Show to commence offshore operations with Senior Táxi Aéreo, one of the largest helicopter operators in the country.

"The success of the AW139 in the market place has been tremendous in all markets," said Renzo Lunardi, Senior Vice President Commercial Business Unit for AgustaWestland. "The offshore transport market is one of the most demanding and the one where the AW139 has seen greatest success. Therefore, it gives us great pleasure to be handing over the 100th aircraft to Synergy Aerospace and Senior Táxi Aéreo for offshore transport, just a few years following the first flight of the prototype."

Synergy Aerospace ordered the offshore transport-configured aircraft in July 2006 as part of a multi-year contract and distribution agreement including various AgustaWestland helicopter types. The contract marked the first major order for the AW139 in South America; Synergy Aerospace later placed additional orders within the framework of the multi-year contract signed in 2006.

The delivery of the 100th AW139 occurs just over three years after the delivery of the first helicopter of this type. AgustaWestland says the AW139 is the only new generation medium twin turbine helicopter in the marketplace.

By June 2007 more than 260 orders had been placed by around 80 customers from over 30 countries, making it the best selling helicopter in the medium twin category.

Designed with multi-role capability and flexibility of operation, the AW139 can perform many roles including offshore transport, search and rescue, emergency medical service, VIP/corporate transport, law enforcement and utility missions.

AW139 production is rapidly ramping up to meet the growing demand for the aircraft. The second AW139 assembly line in Philadelphia, PA is now fully operational and along with the Italian assembly line located at AgustaWestland's Vergiate, Italy facility.

FMI: www.agustawestland.com