AgustaWestland, June 19, 2013 - AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that Era Group Inc. (“Era”) has signed a contract for ten AW189 helicopters plus options.
This contract confirms and increases Era's commitment to the AW189 following the signing of a preliminary sales contract for five aircraft in July 2012.
The aircraft will be used to perform long range offshore oil and gas transport missions.
Emilio Dalmasso, Senior Vice President Commercial Business Unit, AgustaWestland said “We are delighted to have signed this contract with Era, one of the largest and most important helicopter transportation providers in the oil and gas market."
He added "As a well established AW139 operator, Era will benefit from the unique common design philosophy shared by the AW139 and AW189 as part of the AgustaWestland family of new generation commercial helicopters.”
The AW189 was designed in response to the growing market demand for a versatile, affordable, multirole medium helicopter. With deliveries set to start later this year, the new 8-tonne class, twin engine helicopter is optimised for long range offshore transport and SAR missions and has already received nearly 80 orders, making it the outright market leader in its class since its launch at Paris Air Show in June 2011. With the maiden flight performed in December 2011 and EASA civil certification is expected on schedule this summer with FAA certification to follow. The first AW189 helicopters will be delivered to customers in late 2013. The spacious cabin is configured with 16 seats as standard with the option for a high density 18 seat layout or a long range 12 seat configuration.
The cockpit design, incorporating the latest in advanced situational awareness technologies, reduces crew workload and enhances safety. The AW189 will meet the very latest international regulatory safety requirements (EASA / FAA Part 29, JAR OPS 3 / EU-OPS). The AW189 is unique in having a 50 minute ‘run-dry’ capable main gear box, exceeding current certification standards and offering unmatched safety and reliability for long range offshore operations.
The AW189 will benefit from the extensive and expanding AgustaWestland worldwide support network already serving the offshore oil and gas industry. A comprehensive array of simulator and training devices will progressively be made available to serve the worldwide AW189 customer base. The first AW189 Level D Full Flight Simulator, to be based at AgustaWestland’s Sesto Calende Training Academy in Italy, will obtain certification and become available in early-2014.
The AW189 is part of AgustaWestland’s family of new generation helicopters that includes the AW169 and AW139 models. These helicopters all possess the same high performance flight characteristics and safety features and share the same common cockpit layout, design philosophy and maintenance concepts. This approach will deliver real cost savings in areas such as training, maintenance and support for existing operators of the AW139 who add AW189 and/or AW169 helicopters to their fleets.
About Era Group Inc: Era Group Inc. is one of the largest helicopter operators in the world and the longest serving helicopter transport operator in the United States. Era and its subsidiaries provide personnel transport services to the shallow and deepwater oil and gas fields primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska, air medical transport services, leasing services to third parties worldwide and a diverse array of training programs for rotorcraft professionals. Additionally they provide a variety of aviation-related services at an FBO base in Anchorage, Alaska. Era Group Inc. is committed to service and safety excellence in every aspect of its operations.
This contract confirms and increases Era's commitment to the AW189 following the signing of a preliminary sales contract for five aircraft in July 2012.
The aircraft will be used to perform long range offshore oil and gas transport missions.
Emilio Dalmasso, Senior Vice President Commercial Business Unit, AgustaWestland said “We are delighted to have signed this contract with Era, one of the largest and most important helicopter transportation providers in the oil and gas market."
He added "As a well established AW139 operator, Era will benefit from the unique common design philosophy shared by the AW139 and AW189 as part of the AgustaWestland family of new generation commercial helicopters.”
The AW189 was designed in response to the growing market demand for a versatile, affordable, multirole medium helicopter. With deliveries set to start later this year, the new 8-tonne class, twin engine helicopter is optimised for long range offshore transport and SAR missions and has already received nearly 80 orders, making it the outright market leader in its class since its launch at Paris Air Show in June 2011. With the maiden flight performed in December 2011 and EASA civil certification is expected on schedule this summer with FAA certification to follow. The first AW189 helicopters will be delivered to customers in late 2013. The spacious cabin is configured with 16 seats as standard with the option for a high density 18 seat layout or a long range 12 seat configuration.
The cockpit design, incorporating the latest in advanced situational awareness technologies, reduces crew workload and enhances safety. The AW189 will meet the very latest international regulatory safety requirements (EASA / FAA Part 29, JAR OPS 3 / EU-OPS). The AW189 is unique in having a 50 minute ‘run-dry’ capable main gear box, exceeding current certification standards and offering unmatched safety and reliability for long range offshore operations.
The AW189 will benefit from the extensive and expanding AgustaWestland worldwide support network already serving the offshore oil and gas industry. A comprehensive array of simulator and training devices will progressively be made available to serve the worldwide AW189 customer base. The first AW189 Level D Full Flight Simulator, to be based at AgustaWestland’s Sesto Calende Training Academy in Italy, will obtain certification and become available in early-2014.
The AW189 is part of AgustaWestland’s family of new generation helicopters that includes the AW169 and AW139 models. These helicopters all possess the same high performance flight characteristics and safety features and share the same common cockpit layout, design philosophy and maintenance concepts. This approach will deliver real cost savings in areas such as training, maintenance and support for existing operators of the AW139 who add AW189 and/or AW169 helicopters to their fleets.
About Era Group Inc: Era Group Inc. is one of the largest helicopter operators in the world and the longest serving helicopter transport operator in the United States. Era and its subsidiaries provide personnel transport services to the shallow and deepwater oil and gas fields primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska, air medical transport services, leasing services to third parties worldwide and a diverse array of training programs for rotorcraft professionals. Additionally they provide a variety of aviation-related services at an FBO base in Anchorage, Alaska. Era Group Inc. is committed to service and safety excellence in every aspect of its operations.
See also |
AW189 in
ERA Helicopters 
