Fri, Dec 23, 2011
New Twin Helo Set For Deliveries In 2014
The first prototype of the AW189 twin engine helicopter
successfully completed its maiden flight Wednesday. The aircraft
was launched at the Paris Air Show earlier this year and
AgustaWestland says this first prototype has made its maiden flight
ahead of schedule. AgustaWestland is aiming for civil certification
for the AW189 in 2013 and to start deliveries in early 2014.
The helicopter was flown by AgustaWestland Chief Test Pilot
Giuseppe Lo Coco at the company's Cascina Costa plant in Italy. He
said it performed as expected during the flight which included an
assessment of the helicopter's general handling and basic systems.
The first prototype will be used for avionic system testing and
certification of offshore equipment options, while the second
prototype, set to fly in 2012, will be dedicated to a load survey
programme.
"Performing the first flight of the new AW189 just a few months
after its launch highlights our strong commitment to providing the
market with the most advanced helicopters in the shortest possible
timescales," said Bruno Spagnolini, Chief Executive Officer,
AgustaWestland. "(A) number of leading operators (have) already
committed to buy the AW189 for long range offshore missions."
"We are confident as we progress towards certification and
production that many more operators will select the AW189 as their
new generation helicopter for Search and Rescue, offshore transport
and parapublic missions due to its long-range capabilities,
attractive operating costs and modern safety features," he
said.
The AW189 is part of AgustaWestland's family of new generation
helicopters that includes the AW169 and AW139 models. These
helicopters all possess the same flight characteristics and safety
features, and share a common cockpit layout, design philosophy and
maintenance concepts. AgustaWestland says this approach will
deliver real cost savings in areas such as training, maintenance
and support for existing operators of the AW139 who add AW169
and/or AW189 helicopters to their fleets.
Set to enter service in early 2014, the twin engine AW189
helicopter is optimised for long range offshore transport and SAR
missions. (Image provided by AgustaWestland)
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