FAS (Falcon Aviation Services) of Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) has signed a contract for a GrandNew light twin and a preliminary sale contract for two AW169 helicopters. These latest contracts were signed at the delivery ceremony recently held at AgustaWestland’s Vergiate facility in Italy for their first VIP transport-configured GrandNew. These contracts will expand FAS’ fleet of AgustaWestland helicopters, which already includes two of the well proven Grand helicopters. The contract also marks the entrance of the all new AW169 helicopter into the growing UAE market. Bruno Spagnolini, Chief Executive Officer, AgustaWestland said “It gives us great pleasure to further expand our working partnership with FAS, who have an excellent reputation for quality of service with their growing customer base. Adding the GrandNew and the all new AW169 to their fleet will enable FAS to offer its customers an enhanced range of services with the most technologically advanced helicopters available today.”

The GrandNew features the most modern developments in avionics while retaining the Grand’s outstanding performance and features. The GrandNew is the first type certified light twin (CS/JAR/FAR 27) to enter service with a new EFIS featuring Synthetic Vision and the first helicopter in this class on the market fully compliant with the latest advanced global positioning system-based navigation requirements for all weather operations. Orders for over 300 helicopters from the Grand series have been placed by more than 180 customers in over 30 countries worldwide in order to perform many tasks including VIP/corporate transport, passenger transport, EMS/SAR, harbour pilot shuttle, ENG, maritime patrol and water pollution monitoring. 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. Deliveries are expected to follow immediately after certification is obtained. A significant number of firm orders have already been logged worldwide for a range of applications.