ITC-Aerospace orders two AW169s
ITC-Aerospace becomes first Japanese company to order the AgustaWestland AW169 helicopter.
AgustaWestland has announced that ITC-Aerospace of Japan has placed an order for two AW169 helicopters. The aircraft will be leased to private operators. The contract was signed in the presence of ITC-Aerospace president and CEO Tomoo Nakayama, during a ceremony held at Japan Aerospace 2012 in Nagoya. This contract marks the entrance of the AW169 helicopter into the Japanese market. ITC-Aerospace already operates AW109 Power helicopters.
Emilio Dalmasso, senior vice president Commercial Business Unit, AgustaWestland commented after the ceremony “We are proud that ITC Aerospace, with whom we have established a strong partnership since 1995, has selected the AW169 thereby making it the first customer for the type in Japan.”
Dalmasso continued “This early success in the Japanese market for the only new generation helicopter in its class in decades here at Japan Aerospace supports our view that the AW169 will achieve significant sales in Japan in the years to come for a wide range of applications.”
More than 70 AW169 helicopters have now been ordered. With two prototypes already flying, a third prototype expected to fly in the near future and a fourth prototype planned in 2013, the AW169 is on schedule to achieve certification in 2014.
