AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, recently held an Oil & Gas Industry Seminar in Rio de Janeiro, as part of its strategy aimed at getting closer to its customers. The focus of the event, attended by over 60 delegates, was on oil and gas industry helicopter operations in South and Central America, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico, where a number of AgustaWestland helicopters including the AW119Ke and the AW139 models are largely used for offshore purposes. The seminar follows the successful event held in Singapore in 2008 involving oil and gas activities focused on Asia and Australasia.

Delegates attended from a number of service providers and operators such as Senior Taxi Aereo, ERA Helicopters, Bristow, Petrobras, Heli-One, PFC Energy as well as other companies comprising Pratt & Whitney. The delegates were able to listen to briefings by aviation experts, helicopter operators, regulatory authorities and oil companies and to share views about offshore operational safety, regulation and future challenges facing aviation support for the oil and gas industry. An AgustaWestland Oil&Gas Industry Seminar is planned to be held in Europe in 2010. Emilio Dalmasso, Vice President International Sales OGP Industry, AgustaWestland said “Gathering offshore operators, service providers and companies to share common views on the sector and enable them to show their needs and expectations for the future is a self-evident example of how AgustaWestland is committed to staying close to its customers. These seminars provide an exceptional opportunity to demonstrate what AgustaWestland has done so far to support offshore players worldwide and what can be done further to help them maximizing their capabilities to reach their business targets”.
Briefings were also given of operators “real-life” experiences of introducing and operating the AW139 in the offshore oil and gas support market. The AW139 has, in only a few years, established itself as the leading helicopter in this market, outselling all other medium twin helicopters. The AW139’s superior performance, cabin space and modern technology have proved popular with operators around the world. The type has been able to meet several stringent operational and safety requirements such as the one of Shell Aircraft International which fully approved it for worldwide use by Shell companies in 2007, being compliant with JAR/FAR29 and offering Class 1 performance, HUMS, advanced navigation systems and the availability of a Level D flight and mission simulator to name a few. Over 430 AW139 helicopters have been purchased so far by more than 100 operators in over 40 countries. Approximately one third of orders have been for the offshore oil and gas transport market.

Source: Agusta Westland