“Leonardo Partners with Falcon Aviation to Elevate VVIP Helicopter Services in the UAE with AW139 Acquisition”
During the Paris Air Show, Leonardo and Falcon Aviation Services celebrated another achievement in their enduring collaboration with the announcement of a new order for an AW139 intermediate twin-engine helicopter. The aircraft, commissioned by Falcon Aviation’s owner His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will come equipped with a VVIP 8-seat configuration, hinged doors, and a variety of modern comfort and entertainment amenities.
Falcon Aviation, a prominent aviation service provider in the UAE, will manage the helicopter for VVIP Charter services. The aircraft is anticipated to enter service in 2027, further elevating the company’s luxury offerings in the region.
This recent procurement underscores Falcon Aviation’s unwavering dedication to providing top-tier, secure, and technologically advanced air transport solutions within the UAE and globally. Simultaneously, it reaffirms Leonardo’s dominance in the regional and international VIP/corporate helicopter market, boasting a global market share exceeding 40% in the twin-engine category by value. The VIP/corporate proposition of Leonardo is embodied by the Agusta brand, which represents a renowned fusion of high performance, innovative technology, extensive customization options, and the latest certification standards, ensuring a distinctly unparalleled flight experience.
With close to 1500 units ordered by over 300 clients across approximately 90 countries, and more than 4.5 million flight hours recorded since its certification in 2004, the AW139 has demonstrated exceptional success across a broad spectrum of missions. The AW139 offers remarkable capabilities, technology, and safety to satisfy stringent operator demands for missions in challenging environments, thereby maximizing efficiency. This model is equipped with state-of-the-art avionics that include advanced navigation and collision avoidance systems to boost situational awareness and alleviate pilots’ workload, unmatched speed, power reserves, and overall performance; the most spacious cabin in its class, featuring high modularity for rapid reconfiguration; a unique 60+ min dry-run capable main gearbox for enhanced reliability and safety; and up to 1000 certified kits. In the UAE, the AW139 excels in various roles, including passenger and offshore transportation, public service, and rescue operations.
Falcon Aviation has established a long-standing association with Leonardo as a helicopter operator, playing a vital role in the deployment of Leonardo’s state-of-the-art rotorcraft technology throughout the UAE. The company has secured orders for multiple AW109 GrandNew light twins, AW169 intermediate twins, and AW189 super medium twin-engine helicopters for energy support operations both within the UAE and internationally, as well as for passenger transport assignments. In 2024, Falcon Aviation placed an order for its inaugural AW139 to facilitate offshore transport, positioning this operator as a significant user of the entire AW Family of advanced generation helicopters from Leonardo. This unique design concept is based on shared characteristics across the AW169-AW139-AW189 models, encompassing certification and safety standards, components, cockpit layout and aesthetics, as well as training and technical support strategies. The Family concept has consistently delivered unrivaled benefits to major global operators in terms of training, fleet management, versatility, efficiency, and sustainability. Last year’s advancement allowed Falcon Aviation to prepare for supplementary services in terms of capacity and range, fitting perfectly within the weight/size category between the AW169 and AW189, making it even more competitive to address emerging market needs in the UAE and other regions.
