Leonardo unveiled significant developments at Heli-Expo 2023 (Atlanta, 7-9 March), securing international contracts and establishing a crucial partnership for the U.S. market concerning the AW09 helicopter as the next-generation single-engine initiative advances.
Leonardo has finalized initial sales agreements for over 50 units with various clients globally, including Aero Service Representação in Brazil, Synerjet Latina SA across Colombia, Peru, and Chile, Helitech Asia in Southeast Asia, Safomar in South Africa, Diskopsa for Panama and Guatemala, and Heliflite at the Aero Facility in Japan.
Furthermore, a vital agreement was established between Leonardo and Metro Aviation, one of the largest privately-owned HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) operators and service providers in the United States. This collaboration intends to bolster the introduction and positioning of the AW09 in the U.S. market, leveraging Metro Aviation’s esteemed expertise and capabilities in Aircraft Interior development & STCs (Supplemental Type Certificates), service, and training.
Gian Piero Cutillo, MD of Leonardo Helicopters, stated, “What we have presented at Heli-Expo represents the culmination of three years of dedicated effort through which the AW09 has undergone significant enhancements and has now achieved a finalized configuration, enabling us to deliver the competitive edge that the market demands. Indeed, the AW09 is receiving a very favorable reception from all regions worldwide. Rotorcraft enterprises highly appreciate the AW09 for its exceptional features and multirole functionalities, marking a substantial advancement compared to current products in this category. The initial sales agreements signed are clear evidence of this. Moreover, merging our industrial strengths with Metro Aviation’s extensive and widely recognized operational experience enriches the AW09’s value proposition, granting superior mission capabilities to operators within this leading single-engine market like the USA.”
The AW09 single-engine helicopter is one of Leonardo’s primary showcases at Heli-Expo 2023 this year. The full-scale mock-up of this next-generation helicopter in its concluding configuration is exhibited at the Leonardo booth, drawing substantial interest from the rotorcraft community. Acquired three years ago by Leonardo, the AW09 seamlessly complements Leonardo’s product lineup in the Long Light Single segment, introducing a completely new design aircraft to ensure a sustained competitive advantage in this weight class. One of the latest advancements is the decision to equip the AW09 with the Arriel 2K engine, the newest addition to the renowned Safran engine family, aligning with the AW09’s targeted high levels of supportability and reliability.
