AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that INAER, the global provider of aerial emergency services and aircraft maintenance, has signed a contract for ten AW169 helicopters. These aircraft will be used for various applications across INAER’s markets. The contract marks another outstanding success for the all new AW169 model, just a few months after its commercial launch earlier this year. A significant number of firm orders have already been logged worldwide for a range of applications. The AW169 helicopter programme, which was unveiled at the Farnborough International Air Show in July 2010, is progressing as planned with the first flight scheduled in 2012 and certification in 2014. Deliveries are expected to follow immediately after certification is obtained.

Bruno Spagnolini, Chief Executive Officer, AgustaWestland said “This order by INAER, one of the largest helicopter operators in the world, is further confirmation that the market is ready and eager to introduce the new generation AW169 helicopter into service. The AW169 is the first new generation type introduced in its segment in decades and will provide operators like INAER with new levels of performance and technology. We are confident this purely customer driven helicopter will achieve great success in the market place.” Jorge Díaz-Crespo Cardona, Chief Executive Officer, INAER said “The collaboration between AgustaWestland and INAER is growing and improving year by year with AgustaWestland developing excellent products and more customized services. In the last years, INAER has considerably expanded and our request of collaboration and support from OEMs has increased. AgustaWestland has been flexible enough to understand our criticalities and to fulfil our requirements. INAER is very confident that the AW169 will be the state-of-the-art and reference helicopter in its product range. AgustaWestland products excel in terms of performance and advanced technology and the AW169 will be developed following this philosophy. We look forward to putting the AW169 into service and we will ask AgustaWestland to speed up its development and certification as our Customers urgently need the AW169”.

A versatile, new generation twin engine light intermediate category helicopter, the AW169 has been designed in response to the growing market demand for an aircraft that delivers high performance, meets all the latest safety standards and has multi-role capabilities. The 4.5 tonne AW169 incorporates several new technology features to provide the highest levels of safety and operational benefits for its customers. New generation technologies are incorporated in the rotor system, engines, avionics, transmission and electric power generation and distribution systems. The AW169 is set to be the most advanced and cost/effective helicopter in its class for EMS/SAR, law enforcement, passenger and offshore transport and utility missions. INAER’s helicopter fleet already includes more than 60 AgustaWestland helicopters single and light twins such as the AW119Ke, AW109 Power, Grand, GrandNew and A109 series helicopters as well as more than 20 AW139 medium twin engine helicopters. INAER also recently ordered 10 of the all new AW169 light intermediate helicopter. INAER is a leading European on-shore helicopter service provider and the AgustaWestland helicopters are used to perform various missions including public passenger transportation, Search and Rescue, EMS and fire-fighting. INAER acts as an AgustaWestland Service Centre in various European countries including Spain, Italy, UK and France to offer on-site support services. The two companies also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2010 for the provision of training services for INAER’s AgustaWestland light twin and medium twin models fleet.

Agusta Westland press release