26 AgustaWestland AW189 super medium twin engine helicopters exceeded 10,000 flight hours

• Flying hour milestone achieved by 26 aircraft in service in Europe, Middle East, Asia and North America, less than two years after very first delivery 
• Market leading super medium class helicopter with more sales, more deliveries, more flight hours and performing more roles than any other competing helicopter 
• Over 150 units sold to customers worldwide to date including firm orders, options and framework contracts  

ROME, 29-Mar-2016 — /EuropaWire/ — Finmeccanica announced today that the fleet of 26 AgustaWestland AW189 super medium twin engine helicopters, in service with customers across four continents, has exceeded 10,000 flight hours. The milestone, achieved less than two years after the first aircraft delivery, marks a major commercial and operational milestone for the most successful helicopter in the all-new super medium category, aimed at meeting long range, large capacity requirements with unprecedented levels of cost effectiveness compared to larger and heavier  helicopter models in the market.

The AW189s already in service have performed their missions across various geographies including Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America with leading customers in UK, Denmark, Malaysia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam and USA with high availability and operational effectiveness.

The AW189 has also established itself as the bestselling aircraft in this specific class among competing types, with over 150 units sold so far,including firm orders, options and framework contracts, to over 20 customers in 14 nations. Also, the new helicopter features today the largest number of dedicated configurations in its market, covering various roles including offshore transport, search and rescue, executive/private transport, firefighting and disaster relief. Additional AW189s are  to be delivered in several other countries including Russia, China and Brazil.

Note to editors about the AW189 helicopter
The AgustaWestland AW189 8.3/8.6 tonne helicopter has been designed to meet the latest and most stringent certification, safety and operational standards. Thanks to its high performance, cabin space, advanced technology and industry leading support and training solutions is the most cost effective helicopter in its class. The AW189 features an icing protection system to operate in all-weather conditions and a 50 minutes ‘run-dry’ capable main gear box allowing unparalleled reliability and safety. AW189s are assembled and delivered from the Finmeccanica Helicopter Division’s facilities in Vergiate (Italy) and Yeovil (UK).

The AW189 is part of the AgustaWestland family of new generation helicopters that includes the AW139 and AW169 models, which possess the same high performance flight characteristics and safety features as well as sharing a common cockpit layout, design philosophy and maintenance/training concept. This commonality will allow more effective operations for customers operating helicopter fleets across the 4 to 9 tonne categories.

Note:
Following the process of the reorganisation of the Finmeccanica Group’s companies, it should be noted that from January 1st 2016: the “Helicopter Division” has absorbed the activities of AgustaWestland; the “Aircraft Division” has absorbed part of the activities of Alenia Aermacchi; the “Aero-structures Division” has absorbed part of the activities of Alenia Aermacchi; the “Airborne & Space Systems Division” has absorbed part of the activities of Selex ES; the “Land & Naval Defence Electronics Division” has absorbed part of the activities of Selex ES; the “Security & Information Systems Division” has absorbed part of the activities of Selex ES; the “Defence Systems Division” has absorbed the activities of OTO Melara and WASS.

Finmeccanica is among the top ten global players in Aerospace, Defence and Security and Italy’s main industrial company. As a single entity from January 2016, organised into business Divisions (Helicopters; Aircraft; Aero-structures; Airborne & Space Systems; Land & Naval Defence Electronics; Defence Systems; Security & Information Systems), Finmeccanica operates in the most competitive international markets by leveraging its areas of technology and product leadership. Listed on the Milan Stock Exchange (FNC IM; SIFI.MI), at 31 December 2014, Finmeccanica recorded restated consolidated revenues of 12.8 billion Euros and has a significant industrial presence in Italy, the UK and the U.S.

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26 AgustaWestland AW189 super medium twin engine helicopters exceeded 10,000 flight hours