Development and certification

The first AW139 made its maiden flight in February 2001. Italian certification was granted in June 2003 and US certification in December 2004. The first AW139 helicopter was delivered to Elilario of Italy in March 2004 and the second to the government of Namibia in September 2004. The AW139 has been selected by more than 40 customers for more than 210 helicopters. Over 50 have been delivered.

Recent orders include: six for the Irish Air Corps (first delivered August 2006), 20 for SEACOR Holdings Inc for use in offshore oil operations, eight for the United Arab Emirates Air Force, one for the Estonian Border Guard, three for the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency for search and rescue (to be operated by CHC Scotia), 12 for Mitsui Bussan Aerospace, three for the Spanish Marine Safety Agency (SASEMAR), three for the Queensland Department of Emergency Services (ordered in June 2006), one for the Beijing Public Security Bureau, one for the Italian Civil Protection (ordered July 2006), four for the Nigerian government (ordered in September 2006), the first three of a requirement of up to 24 for the Japanese Coast Guard (ordered in October 2006) and two for the Los Angeles Fire Department (ordered in March 2007).

The AW139 helicopter had been selected by Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS), a joint venture established by Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, as part of their proposed aviation solution for the US Coastguard Deepwater program. The AW139 would provide the VRS (VTOL Recovery and Surveillance aircraft) element and replace the HH-65 Jayhawk. The US Coast Guard has since decided to upgrade the HH-65 rather than procure new helicopters.

The US139 is being offered for the US Army’s light utility helicopter requirement. In February 2006 the helicopter was flown to the Cairns Army Airfield in Fort Rucker, Alabama for the LUH Source Selection Performance demonstration (SSPD).

The AW139 military version is capable of carrying up to 15 troops or six stretchers with four medical attendants. It can be fitted with gun pods, rocket launchers and air-to-air missiles attached to two removable external supports.

Augusta Westland EH101 Medium-Lift Helicopter, Italy / United Kingdom

The EH101 medium lift helicopter is manufactured by Augusta Westland International Ltd (formerly E.H. Industries), a joint venture company formed by Augusta of Italy and the British company GKN Westland. The EH101 helicopter programme has been developed for both civil and military applications. For civil applications the helicopter is available in the Commercial Utility version with rear ramp for passengers or freight, or in the Heliliner variant for passenger transport. For military applications the EH101 has been developed in a utility version or a naval variant.

The EH101 programme was given the go-ahead by the British and Italian Governments with the signing of an agreement on 25 January 1984. This provided for joint funding of the project through development to the production stage. The first pre-production EH101, PP1, made its maiden flight in October 1987. The civil variant first flew in 1997.

Over 140 EH101 variants have been ordered and more than 60 delivered. The commercial utility version is in service with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police. The military version is in service with the UK Royal Air Force (as the EH101 Merlin HC3), the UK Royal Navy (HMA1 Merlin), the Canadian armed forces (EH101 Cormorant for search and rescue) and the Italian Navy (in anti-submarine, airborne early warning, utility and amphibious support roles). It has also been ordered by Denmark (14 search and rescue and troop transport variants), Portugal (12 for search and rescue and fishery protection, first delivered December 2004) and Japan (14 for transport and mine countermeasures).

A version of the helicopter, the US101, is being offered for the US military market. In February 2005, the helicopter was chosen as the replacement helicopter for the US Marine One presidential transport fleet requirement. The helicopter was proposed by Team US101, led by Lockheed Martin, and will enter service in 2009. The US101 is also being proposed for the US Air Force Personnel Recovery Vehicle (PRV) competition.

Date: 2015-02-16; view: 552