THC (The Helicopter Company) and Leonardo are further strengthening their partnership in civil helicopter operations with the deployment of 16 AW139 intermediate twin-engine aircraft for emergency medical service (EMS) and corporate transportation missions throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Deliveries are set to commence this year and are expected to be finalized within the next three years. These aircraft will enhance THC’s current AW139 fleet of seven helicopters, with the potential for six additional units in future expansions.
Gian Piero Cutillo, Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters, stated, “We’re very thrilled to build upon the exceptional collaboration cultivated over the years with THC, contributing to their ongoing quality service enhancement with more AW139 helicopters. We eagerly anticipate assisting our partner in delivering an even higher level of efficient and secure passenger transportation and emergency response operations across the nation.”
“We are genuinely enthusiastic about significantly expanding our Leonardo fleet with this new acquisition. The AW139 is undoubtedly one of the most dependable platforms in the industry and represents ‘best in class’ transportation within this segment. We are also excited to reaffirm our alliance with Leonardo, a time-honored associate of THC, to develop new capabilities and services within the entire rotary ecosystem in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” remarked Captain Arnaud Martinez, CEO of The Helicopter Company.
Since its certification in 2004, the AW139 has emerged as the premier helicopter program and is the top-selling model in its category, amassing orders for over 1200 units from more than 290 clients across over 70 nations to date. This model has achieved remarkable success in the Middle East, with over 170 units sold in the region for a broad range of missions, including corporate transportation, emergency medical service, search and rescue, law enforcement, offshore transport, and governmental duties. The AW139 provides exceptional capabilities, cutting-edge technology, and safety to fulfill stringent requirements from operators for tasks in challenging environments to maximize operational efficiency. It boasts state-of-the-art avionics with advanced navigation and collision avoidance systems for enhanced situational awareness and reduced pilot workload, unmatched speed, robust power margins, and overall performance, alongside the largest cabin in its class, featuring high modularity for rapid reconfiguration and a unique 60+ min run-dry capable main gearbox for improved reliability and safety, along with up to 1000 certified kits.
