Allowing enhanced capabilities in hot & high conditions for a range of parapublic roles

• First AW139 in service in the Chilean helicopter market
• Expands Carabineros the Chile’s fleet of AgustaWestland aircraft which already includes five AW109 Powers
• Over twenty AgustaWestland helicopter of various types already in service in the country for a number of roles

Finmeccanica-AgustaWestland announced today that the AW139 intermediate twin helicopter delivered to the Carabineros de Chile has now entered service. The aircraft will be used to support a wide range of missions including public order and safety, crime control, counter terrorism, drug control and border security across the nation, search and rescue and transport. The exceptional performance of the AW139, especially at high altitude and in high temperatures, will enhance the Carabineros’ mission capabilities.

The order made in late 2014 marked the entrance of the AW139 into the Chilean helicopter market and an expansion of the Carabineros de Chile’s AgustaWestland helicopter fleet, which includes five AW109 Power light twin helicopters that first entered service in 2008. More than twenty AgustaWestland helicopters, including AW119, AW109 Power, GrandNew and W-3A Sokol models, are now in service in Chile performing various commercial and parapublic missions.

The only new generation helicopter in its weight class, the AW139 sets new standards of performance in its category with a maximum cruise speed of 165 knots (306 km/h) and a maximum range in excess of 570 nm (1060 km) with auxiliary fuel. The aircraft has outstanding one engine inoperative capabilities, even in the hot and high environmental conditions. The AW139, together with the next generation AW169 and AW189 models, is part of the AgustaWestland Family of new generation helicopters which possess the same high performance flight characteristics and safety features, as well as sharing a common cockpit layout, design philosophy and maintenance concept. This commonality will allow more effective operations for customers operating helicopter fleets across the 4 to 8.5 tonne categories.

 

The AW139 benefits from a range of modern, constantly enhanced and tailored support and training capabilities, designed to deliver outstanding mission effectiveness and safety standards whatever the mission, leveraging on the expanding network of AgustaWestland service and training centres worldwide. With orders for almost 900 aircraft in more than 70 countries from more than 220 customers and over 730 aircraft already in service, the AW139 is the best-selling intermediate twin engine helicopter in the world.

 

Many operators have chosen or are already operating the AW139 for homeland security, law enforcement and public utility applications in many nations worldwide including Chile, Brazil, USA, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Bulgaria, Oman, UAE, and China. The type has also found significant success for other applications such as offshore transport, EMS/SAR, executive/private and passenger transport, government and military roles.