Leonardo, August 02, 2023 - Latin America’s executive air transport exhibition, LABACE (the annual Latin America Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition) is back this year in São Paolo, Brazil from August 8 to 10, enabling Leonardo to provide an update on what’s next with its VIP/corporate and passenger transport offer within the regional helicopter market.
This year’s edition of the exhibition will highlight the very latest in the Agusta brand offer and it also marks the public premiere of the AW09 next generation single engine helicopter at LABACE.
With a global fleet of more than 900 Leonardo helicopters carrying out a range of passenger transport missions, including private transport, corporate transport, charter, scheduled services and VIP/government transport, approximately 25 percent are based in Latin America.
Out of a total of more than 400 helicopters of various types and for various applications in Latin America, half of these rotorcraft are used for VIP/corporate transport in the region. Leonardo has retained a leading 45 percent share of the world’s multi-engine VIP helicopter market over the last decade.
The new Agusta brand updates the distinctive factors that made the company famous and popular among regional and global operators, adding more solutions and services as technology evolves further. At LABACE, Leonardo is providing an update on latest plans for new options and services dedicated to VIP/corporate helicopter operators under the Agusta brand initiative.
The Agusta For You service and maintenance package for private operators, for example, is conceived as an integral part of the Leonardo VIP offer and it has been already selected by several customers around the world providing turnkey solutions in terms of a complete coverage. Developed specifically to meet the needs of corporate rotorcraft operators, it is intended to increase aircraft availability and reduce inventory costs, while optimizing expenses by covering both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance of airframe, avionics components, and other items.
The Agusta For You plan is available to all the Leonardo helicopters, and it offers on demand possibilities of annual interiors refurbishment, coverage of entertainment system (parts and troubleshooting), coverage of engines in the case of unscheduled events (with performance guaranteed) and engine loan service.
For those customers who decide to maintain their helicopter at Leonardo facilities, the Agusta For You service plan also provides premium services such as: facilitation in the rental of a “replacement” helicopter, in case of helicopter on maintenance; fuel arrangements; cabin cleaning service; direct ramp access, when hangars are in a commercial airfield.
Over the next two years, with the aim of extending the possibility to access the Agusta For You services through the entire Leonardo global service network, selected Leonardo helicopters Part 145 maintenance centers will be renewed with Agusta-branded areas, bringing premium services closer to VIP clients in the main geographical areas, also including the Americas.
Furthermore, on the Leonardo Helicopters Customer Portal, VIP operators will have a dedicated area to verify the progress and status of their helicopter manufacturing and testing, also including images. Overall, these steps are aimed at delivering more distinct answers to meet exclusivity requirements and make the ownership and operations from day one a true 360-degree experience when choosing Agusta.
Leonardo VIP helicopters also feature a range of technologies supporting safety, comfort, navigation and mission effectiveness, support and training. As a clear example, Leonardo is exhibiting an AW169 light intermediate helicopter on static display at LABACE.
The only latest generation helicopter in its category in over 30 years, the AW169 features a range of innovations, typically not available on light multiengine models with substantial benefits also for passenger transport duties. These include, among others, a unique Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) Mode capability, allowing key systems like air conditioning, heating and radio working by leveraging power generated by one of the two engines while on ground. The type has proven extremely successful in Brazil over the last few years, particularly for VIP/corporate transport purposes.
Furthermore, Leonardo is also showcasing a full-scale mock-up of the AW09 latest generation single engine model. This marks the type’s premiere at LABACE, following its first appearance in Brazil in early June when Gualter Helicopters (Aero Service Representação) was appointed Leonardo’s distributor for the AW09 in the country.
In March Gualter Helicopters had already signed preliminary sales contracts for 20 units. Acquired three years ago by Leonardo, the AW09 complements Leonardo’s product range in the Long Light Single segment, introducing an all-new design aircraft to sustain a long-term competitive positioning in this weight category. Program testing is ongoing.
In recent years, the continued growth in the region, along with the introduction of all new models for all applications (VIP/corporate, public services, energy support/offshore transport) required new efforts to meet evolving requirements. Testifying its strong commitment to the region and to expand support and proximity to its operators, Leonardo has therefore strengthened its localized support service capabilities since July 2021 with the opening and operational readiness of its new Brazilian Service and Logistics Centre headquartered in Itapevi, 30 kilometers from São Paolo.
In the first period of operation, the number of customers served with maintenance services increased by more than 50 percent. The new site can host up to 20 helicopters for support services: from supporting deliveries to customers, to reassembly, to pre-buy inspections for pre-owned helicopters, to the complete life cycle of the equipment, including in-service modifications, painting and interior completion.
The service capacity of the center can be expanded by up to 50 percent compared to the previous dedicated site which is now replaced. The facility has been built on a wide area that can accommodate further expansion, either more space for maintenance services of airframes and components, or possibly, a training center.
This year’s edition of the exhibition will highlight the very latest in the Agusta brand offer and it also marks the public premiere of the AW09 next generation single engine helicopter at LABACE.
With a global fleet of more than 900 Leonardo helicopters carrying out a range of passenger transport missions, including private transport, corporate transport, charter, scheduled services and VIP/government transport, approximately 25 percent are based in Latin America.
Out of a total of more than 400 helicopters of various types and for various applications in Latin America, half of these rotorcraft are used for VIP/corporate transport in the region. Leonardo has retained a leading 45 percent share of the world’s multi-engine VIP helicopter market over the last decade.
The new Agusta brand updates the distinctive factors that made the company famous and popular among regional and global operators, adding more solutions and services as technology evolves further. At LABACE, Leonardo is providing an update on latest plans for new options and services dedicated to VIP/corporate helicopter operators under the Agusta brand initiative.
The Agusta For You service and maintenance package for private operators, for example, is conceived as an integral part of the Leonardo VIP offer and it has been already selected by several customers around the world providing turnkey solutions in terms of a complete coverage. Developed specifically to meet the needs of corporate rotorcraft operators, it is intended to increase aircraft availability and reduce inventory costs, while optimizing expenses by covering both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance of airframe, avionics components, and other items.
The Agusta For You plan is available to all the Leonardo helicopters, and it offers on demand possibilities of annual interiors refurbishment, coverage of entertainment system (parts and troubleshooting), coverage of engines in the case of unscheduled events (with performance guaranteed) and engine loan service.
For those customers who decide to maintain their helicopter at Leonardo facilities, the Agusta For You service plan also provides premium services such as: facilitation in the rental of a “replacement” helicopter, in case of helicopter on maintenance; fuel arrangements; cabin cleaning service; direct ramp access, when hangars are in a commercial airfield.
Over the next two years, with the aim of extending the possibility to access the Agusta For You services through the entire Leonardo global service network, selected Leonardo helicopters Part 145 maintenance centers will be renewed with Agusta-branded areas, bringing premium services closer to VIP clients in the main geographical areas, also including the Americas.
Furthermore, on the Leonardo Helicopters Customer Portal, VIP operators will have a dedicated area to verify the progress and status of their helicopter manufacturing and testing, also including images. Overall, these steps are aimed at delivering more distinct answers to meet exclusivity requirements and make the ownership and operations from day one a true 360-degree experience when choosing Agusta.
Leonardo VIP helicopters also feature a range of technologies supporting safety, comfort, navigation and mission effectiveness, support and training. As a clear example, Leonardo is exhibiting an AW169 light intermediate helicopter on static display at LABACE.
The only latest generation helicopter in its category in over 30 years, the AW169 features a range of innovations, typically not available on light multiengine models with substantial benefits also for passenger transport duties. These include, among others, a unique Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) Mode capability, allowing key systems like air conditioning, heating and radio working by leveraging power generated by one of the two engines while on ground. The type has proven extremely successful in Brazil over the last few years, particularly for VIP/corporate transport purposes.
Furthermore, Leonardo is also showcasing a full-scale mock-up of the AW09 latest generation single engine model. This marks the type’s premiere at LABACE, following its first appearance in Brazil in early June when Gualter Helicopters (Aero Service Representação) was appointed Leonardo’s distributor for the AW09 in the country.
In March Gualter Helicopters had already signed preliminary sales contracts for 20 units. Acquired three years ago by Leonardo, the AW09 complements Leonardo’s product range in the Long Light Single segment, introducing an all-new design aircraft to sustain a long-term competitive positioning in this weight category. Program testing is ongoing.
In recent years, the continued growth in the region, along with the introduction of all new models for all applications (VIP/corporate, public services, energy support/offshore transport) required new efforts to meet evolving requirements. Testifying its strong commitment to the region and to expand support and proximity to its operators, Leonardo has therefore strengthened its localized support service capabilities since July 2021 with the opening and operational readiness of its new Brazilian Service and Logistics Centre headquartered in Itapevi, 30 kilometers from São Paolo.
In the first period of operation, the number of customers served with maintenance services increased by more than 50 percent. The new site can host up to 20 helicopters for support services: from supporting deliveries to customers, to reassembly, to pre-buy inspections for pre-owned helicopters, to the complete life cycle of the equipment, including in-service modifications, painting and interior completion.
The service capacity of the center can be expanded by up to 50 percent compared to the previous dedicated site which is now replaced. The facility has been built on a wide area that can accommodate further expansion, either more space for maintenance services of airframes and components, or possibly, a training center.
See also |
AW09 in
Kopter 
Leonardo do Brasil 
Agusta Brand Leonardo Italy 
