First Two Aircraft Scheduled For Delivery Next Year

Gulf Helicopters of Qatar has signed firm orders for fifteen AW189 helicopters. AgustaWestland announced the signing at the Dubai Air Show this week. This signing follows the preliminary sale contract announced in early 2012, confirming customer’s commitment to this new generation model.

The first two aircraft are planned to be delivered to the customer in 2014 and all helicopters will achieve operational readiness by 2017.

“We are delighted to see how increasingly strong is our partnership with Gulf Helicopter with the signing of a significant number of firm orders for the all new AW189 helicopter," said Daniele Romiti, Chief Executive Officer, AgustaWestland. "Gulf Helicopter, an already prime operator to the AW139 in the region, will also become the first customer introducing the Family concept into operational service in the whole area. We are confident they will perform a quantum leap forward in operational effectiveness, versatility and fleet management. We welcome them to the Family advantage.”

“The experience of operating, maintaining and managing the AW139 in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Europe over 6 years with 15 units in our Fleet and with over 45,000 hours of flying has helped Gulf Helicopters in taking the decision to purchase the AW189 8-tonne class twin engine helicopter.” said Mr. Mohamed Al Mohannadi, Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Helicopters. “The AW189, which hails from the same family of new generation helicopters such as the AW139, can add an advantage to the Company’s outstanding operations where longer range capabilities are required. We are confident that with the support of AgustaWestland, our fleet of AW189s will find home quickly, as we believe that the AW189 is the perfect size to fit into a very niche market that is not really being serviced by other types of helicopter.”

Assembly and flight testing of the first batch of offshore-configured AW189 production aircraft is on-going at Vergiate plant (Italy) with the start of delivery planned by year end. Meanwhile a range maintenance and flight training devices is already being made available to customers to rapidly start familiarization with the type and speed up operational readiness once the aircraft are delivered to service, offering unprecedented advantages to the AW189 operators.

The AW189 is designed in response to the growing market demand for a versatile, affordable, multirole medium helicopter.

(Image provided by AgustaWestland)

FMI: www.agustawestland.com