EASA awards AW189 type certificate

AgustaWestland AW189

The AgustaWestland AW189 helicopter has been awarded its EASA type certificate.

AgustaWestland AW189

AgustaWestland has announced that the AW189 helicopter has been awarded a type certificate by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on 7 February 2014. Delivery of the first two AW189s in offshore configuration to the Bristow Group is imminent.

Daniele Romiti, chief executive officer of AgustaWestland, said: “EASA certification of the new generation AW189 is a tremendous achievement and marks a major milestone in the development of new generation long range helicopters, as well as bringing into service the newest member of our unique family of helicopters.”

Romiti added: “We are committed to ensuring that the many customers who have already ordered the AW189 and will soon take delivery of their helicopters, will get industry leading levels of service to enable them to exploit the AW189’s class leading capabilities.”

The first AW189 final assembly line is located in Vergiate, Italy, with second one being established at AgustaWestland’s Yeovil facility in the UK, which will initially build the AW189 helicopters that will be used for the UK’s new Search and Rescue service and then to meet the global demand for SAR-configured AW189s.

The AgustaWestland AW189 has already received orders totalling 130 aircraft.

Customers include many of the world’s leading large fleet operators such as  Avincis Group, Bristow Group, Era Group, Gulf Helicopters and Weststar Aviation Services. Additionally major helicopter leasing companies such as Lease Corporation International, Milestone Aviation Group and Waypoint Leasing have signed agreements for AW189 helicopters.

The AW189 cabin can be configured for 16 seats as standard with the option for a high density 19-seat layout or a long range 12-seat configuration.