AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, announced that Starspeed Ltd. of the UK has signed a preliminary sales contract for a second AW169 light intermediate helicopter. The helicopter will be used to perform VIP transport missions in the United Kingdom. The order underlines the growing success of the AW169 in the UK and worldwide for corporate and VIP transport, air ambulance, law enforcement and utility missions.
David Voy, Starspeed Chairman, said “Following on from the order placed last November, Starspeed Ltd is delighted to announce that its own early faith in the potential of the AW169 has been further endorsed, with a confirmation of the order for a second airframe. Corporate customers first and foremost look for speed and supreme levels of comfort; they need operations to be available at short notice, potentially anywhere in the world with a minimum of additional support; they demand the highest standards of safety and reliability, meeting all requirements for commercial air transport as an absolute minimum; they expect justifiable purchase costs and good residual value; and they prefer long intervals between scheduled maintenance, with predictable and planned costs. The AW169 is just the product to meet these demands.”
A versatile, new generation twin engine light intermediate category helicopter, the 4.5 tonne 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 AW169 incorporates several new technology features in the rotor system, engines, avionics, transmission and electric power generation and distribution systems. The AW169 is part of the AgustaWestland family of new generation helicopters that includes the AW139 and AW189 models, 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. Over 80 AW169 helicopters have now been ordered for a wide range of missions including corporate transport, air ambulance, law enforcement, utility and offshore transport. With four prototypes already flying, the AW169 is on schedule to achieve certification in 2014. Two final assembly lines for the AW169 are being established one at AgustaWestland’s Vergiate facility in Italy and a second one at AgustaWestland Philadelphia in the USA. The AgustaWestland facility in Yeovil is also playing a crucial role in the design and manufacturing of the AW169. Starspeed is a UK based helicopter management company, established in 1978 and specializing in the VVIP transport market. Operating from its dedicated hangar and offices at Fairoaks Airport, south west of London, Starspeed offers the ultimate in executive helicopter charter services for London, the UK and Europe, as well as aircraft management and advanced pilot training services.
Agusta Westland press release
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