AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, announced that the AW139 intermediate twin engine helicopter fleet operated by Gulf Helicopters of Qatar has achieved the milestone of 40,000 flight hours.

Gulf Helicopter is one of the largest AW139 operators worldwide and a prime player in the Middle East with 15 helicopters of this type already in service and three more to be delivered. Gulf Helicopters first ordered the AW139 in 2007 as part of its fleet renewal and expansion plans and the aircraft has been performing offshore transport missions. Gulf Helicopters is also an authorized service centre for AgustaWestland for their AW139s and also one of the first helicopter companies to have its own full flight simulator for the AW139 for its own operations and third party use. Additionally, Gulf Helicopters has recently been established as an AgustaWestland Authorised Training Centre for the type.

Gulf Helicopters will also benefit from the advantages of AgustaWestland’s Family of new generation helicopters having signed a preliminary order for fifteen new generation AW189 8 tonne class helicopters.

Agusta Westland press release