Leonardo boosts helicopter leadership in China with orders for 15 AW139s and the signing of a Heads of Agreement for a mix of an additional 160 helicopters and new in-country support and training services

Contracts for 15 EMS-configured AW139s, for delivery between 2019 and 2021. The new helicopters will bring total sales of Leonardo helicopters in China to over 185

The Heads of Agreement includes a purchase and delivery plan for 160 units in a 2019-2023 timeframe plus the establishment of a Leonardo Authorised Training Academy and a Completion & Customisation Centre. It also confirms the role of Sino-US as Leonardo’s civil helicopters exclusive distributor in China

Profumo: “With the new orders and Heads of Agreement signed today, Leonardo reinforces its leading position in China, a fast-growing and highly competitive market where our state-of-the-art helicopters are performing challenging emergency medical support operations every day, serving communities around the nation.”

Shanghai, 05 November 2018 - Leonardo announced today that Sino-US Intercontinental Helicopter Investment (Sino-US) of China has signed contracts for 15 AW139 intermediate twin engine helicopters. The announcement was made during the China International Import Expo in Shanghai in the presence of the Italian Deputy  Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development, Labour and Social Policies Luigi Di Maio. The aircraft, which will be delivered between 2019 and 2021, will be used by Kingwing General Aviation (Kingwing) to perform EMS (Emergency Medical Service) missions in China. These latest orders, strengthening the collaboration between Leonardo and Sino-US in China, build on existing contracts for EMS helicopters signed by Sino-US in recent years which include 34 AW119Kx single engines, 24 AW139s and 25 AW109 Trekkers.

Leonardo and Sino-US also announced the signing of a Heads of Agreement (HoA) to further expand their long term relationship. Under the HoA, Sino-US is confirmed as the exclusive distributor of Leonardo helicopters in the Chinese civil and commercial helicopter market, with a purchase and delivery plan for 160 aircraft of various types throughout 2019-2023. The HoA also foresees the establishment of a Leonardo Authorised Training Academy in China in partnership with Sino-US, and the setup of a Completion and Customisation Centre managed by Sino-US with the capability to configure, customise and complete the helicopters delivered by Leonardo in-country. Leonardo and Sino-US started their successful collaboration in 2013 and the partnership is now entering a new phase of increased collaboration to ensure the continued support of the growing fleet in the country.

Alessandro Profumo, Leonardo CEO, said: “With the new orders and Heads of Agreement signed today, Leonardo reinforces its leading position in China, a fast-growing and highly competitive market where our state-of-the-art helicopters are performing challenging emergency medical support operations every day, serving communities around the nation. We’re extremely pleased with our strong partnership with Sino-US. This latest agreement provides further evidence of Leonardo’s commitment to expand its range of customer services available close to operators around the world, as its fleet and customer base grow stronger, in support of the framework of Leonardo’s Industrial Plan.”

Jianming ZOU, President of Shanghai Kingwing General Aviation Co., Ltd., said “Leonardo is supplying a world-class helicopter type in the AW139. It has been a great partner in supporting the expansion of our company and investing in China, a fast-growing market.”

Over 185 Leonardo helicopters, of various types, have now been sold to Chinese customers for a range of both commercial and public services. This includes the Company maintaining its leading position in the EMS market with a 70% market share.   

With further deliveries planned over the next few years, Chinese civil operator Kingwing will become one of the largest operators of Leonardo helicopters worldwide.

Leonardo strengthens local support for Chilean helicopter fleet with new Authorised Service Centre

- Aerocardal  Limitada  appointed  as  an  Authorised  Service  Centre  for  AW109  light twin-engine  and  AW119 single-engine  helicopters  in Chile 

- Leonardo  is  committed  to  expanding  the  level  of  customer  services  for  new  models entering  the  market,  such  as  the  AW109  Trekker,  recently  sold in Chile

- Leonardo’s  helicopter  fleet  in  Chile  exceeds  20  aircraft  including  AW119,  AW109, AW139  and  W-3A  Sokol  types  carrying  out  VIP/corporate  passenger  transport, firefighting,  utility  and law  enforcement

Santiago,  5  April  2018  –  Leonardo  announced  today  that  Aerocardal  Limitada  has  been  appointed an  Authorised  Service  Centre  for  its  helicopters  in  Chile.  The  announcement  was  made  during  an official  ceremony  held  at  FIDAE  2018.  Under  the  agreement,  Aerocardal  Limitada  will  provide comprehensive  support  and  maintenance  services  from  its  base  at  Comodoro  Arturo  Merino Benítez  international  Airport,  for  Chilean  owners  and  operators  of  AW109  light  twin-engine  and AW119  single-engine  helicopters. 

As  an  established  operator  of  two  Leonardo  AW109  Grand  helicopters  for  emergency  medical service,  Aerocardal  Limitada  has  been  delivering  maintenance  services  for  the  AW109  Power, Grand  and  Grandnew  types  in  Chile  for  eight  years.  It  is  now  reinforcing  its  support  capabilities extending  its  range  of  services  to  new  models,  including  the  latest  addition  to  the  Chilean  fleet  of Leonardo  products,  the  AW109  Trekker  which has  recently  entered  this  market. 

This  latest  agreement  provides  further  evidence  of  Leonardo’s  commitment  to  expanding  its  range of  customer  services  close  to  operators  around  the  world,  as  its  fleet  and  customer  base  grow stronger.  Over  20  Leonardo  helicopters  are in  service in  Chile today,  including  the  AW119,  AW109, AW139  and  W-3A  Sokol  models  performing  VIP  transport,  firefighting,  law  enforcement, emergency  medical  service  and utility  tasks. 

Over  400  Leonardo  helicopters  are  operated  by  military  and  civil  customers  in  Latin  America, making  Leonardo  a  major  force  in  the  regional  helicopter  sector.  The  helicopters  are  used  for  the widest  range  of  applications  including  naval  roles,  law  enforcement  and  homeland  security, EMS/SAR,  firefighting  and disaster  relief,  utility,  VVIP-VIP/corporate  and offshore  transport.

Operating  since  1991  with  zero  accidents,  Aerocardal  Limitada  provides  a  wide  range  of aeronautical  services  including  fixed  wing  executive  transport  and  MEDEVAC,  helicopter ambulance  services  as  well  as  full  maintenance  for  Chilean  registered  and  FAA  certified  aircraft and engines. 

Leonardo: Chilean helicopter fleet grows stronger with first AW109 Trekker sale in the country

- An  AW119Kx  VIP  and  an  AW109  Trekker  utility  will  be  delivered  in  4Q2018  and  1Q2019 respectively

- Leonardo  helicopters  fleet  in  Chile  exceeds  20  aircraft  of  various  models  including AW119,  AW109,  AW139  and  W-3A  Sokol  covering  VIP/corporate  passenger,  firefighting, utility  and law  enforcement

- Over  400 Leonardo helicopters  are  in service  in Latin  America  for  civil  and  military  tasks     

Rome,  30  March  2018  –  Leonardo  announced  today  that  two  additional  civil  helicopters  will  be delivered  to  Chilean  private  operators  by  early  2019,  adding  to  a  fleet  of  more  than  20  aircraft currently  in  service.  The  deliveries  will  mark  the  entry  of  the  new  AW109  Trekker  light  twin,  in  a utility  configuration,  into  the  Chilean  market  in  1Q2019  as  well  as  an  AW119Kx  single  engine  for VIP  transport  in  4Q2018.  The  AW109  Trekker  maintains  the  AW109  Grand  airframe,  large  cabin and  top  class  performance  while  offering  greater  payload  at  a  competitive  cost,  thus  proving perfectly  suited  to  meet  the  stringent  requirements  of  Chilean  operators  in  terms  of  capabilities, cost/effectiveness and environment,  particularly  in high  altitude  conditions.

Types  in  service  in  Chile  include  the  AW119,  AW109,  AW139  and  W-3A  Sokol  models  performing VIP  transport,  firefighting,  law  enforcement  and  utility  tasks.  Over  400  military  and  civil  helicopters are  operated  in  Latin  America,  making  Leonardo  a  major  force  in  the  regional  helicopter  sector covering  the  widest  range  of  applications  including  naval  roles,  law  enforcement  and  homeland security,  EMS/SAR,  firefighting  and  disaster  relief,  utility,  VVIP-VIP/corporate  and  offshore transport. 

AW109 Trekker  and  AW119Kx 

The  recently  EASA certified  AW109  Trekker  is  the  latest  addition  to  Leonardo’s  helicopter  portfolio and  the  company’s  first  light  twin  to  offer  skid  landing  gear.  Featuring  modern  modular  avionics  it can  be  easily  configured  for  a  wide  range  of  roles  and  is  the  ideal  solution  for  EMS,  utility,  SAR, law  enforcement,  surveillance  and  passenger  transport  applications.  Orders  for  almost  60  AW109 Trekkers  have  been  logged  so  far  by  customers  in  Europe,  North  and  Latin  America,  Asia  to perform  roles  like  emergency  medical  service,  law  enforcement  and  utility  missions.

The  AW119Kx  is  a  best  in  class  single  engine  helicopter  featuring  a  state-of-the-art  avionics system  for  enhanced  situational  awareness,  mission  effectiveness  and  safety.  The  AW119Kx  has a  large  cabin  able  to  accommodate  up  to  six  passengers  and  redundancy  of  all  critical  systems that  are  typically  available  on  twin  engine  aircraft,  ensuring  outstanding  safety.  Nearly  300  AW119 helicopters  have  been  ordered  to  date  by  over  120  customers  in  almost  40  countries.  The new  AW119Kx  is  perfectly  suited  to  perform  many  roles  including  EMS,  utility,  fire-fighting,  law enforcement,  VIP/Corporate  transport,  military  training  and  public  service  duties.