AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, and Weststar Aviation Services are pleased to announce that a contract for 10 AW139 intermediate twin helicopters was signed at the Singapore Air Show by Vincenzo Alaimo, managing director of AgustaWestland Malaysia Sdn Bhd, and Y.Bhg. General Tan Sri Muhammad Ismail Jamaluddin (R), Weststar Group CEO. This additional order by one of the major oil & gas operators in the area confirms the incredible success of the AW139 and of AgustaWestland for offshore missions with a 56 percent market share in the intermediate category in the last 5 years.
Y.Bhg. General Tan Sri Muhammad Ismail Jamaluddin (R), Weststar Group CEO, said, “The AW139 helicopters already make up the majority of the Weststar Aviation Services fleet and we have enjoyed a stellar track record utilising them. As Weststar Aviation Services now moves forward in its international expansion efforts, we are delighted and confident to further cement AgustaWestland as our preferred helicopter partner”.
Vincenzo Alaimo, managing director of AgustaWestland Malaysia Sdn Bhd, said, “Weststar’s confirmation of the AW139 as its leading type further reaffirms how this outstanding helicopter is the benchmark by major operators who strive for the best performances and the highest safety standards. What’s more, Weststar is one of the many operators who put their confidence in our Family of helicopters and will soon see all the benefits of this concept”.
This latest contract brings the total number of AW139 helicopters that will be operated by Weststar Aviation Services to 34. Weststar is the first operator worldwide who chose to benefit from the commonality in design across the entire Family of new generation helicopters AW139, AW169 – with two units on order – and AW189 – with four units ordered. As well as possessing the same high performance flight characteristics and safety features the helicopters share a common cockpit layout, design philosophy and maintenance concepts that will allow more effective operations for customers operating helicopter fleets from 4.5 to 8 tonnes. The first AW139 entered service with Weststar Aviation Services on April 1, 2011 and since then the fleet has amassed more than 40,000 flight hours in almost three years. The AW139 has achieved great success in Malaysia in recent years with orders placed by local operators for corporate, firefighting, EMS/SAR and coastal patrol missions. State-of-the-art technology, outstanding performance, low operating costs and the only helicopter in its class to meet the latest safety standards, have made the AW139 the helicopter of choice in the medium twin market. With its power reserve, the AW139 delivers Category A (Class 1) performance from a helipad (elevated or at ground level) at maximum take-off weight with an unmatched one engine inoperative capability. The AW139 can carry up to 15 passengers in its spacious cabin. Over 750 AW139s have now been ordered by approximately 200 customers around the world with more than 620 now in service.
AgustaWestland Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of AgustaWestland, continues to play a major role in the Malaysian helicopter market expanding its presence and increasing its capabilities through a continued program of investment. The Company’s headquarters, maintenance, support and training facilities are located at Kuala Lumpur’s Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport. AgustaWestland Malaysia is a Malaysian DCA approved maintenance and repair organization.
Weststar Aviation Services Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian based company which provides offshore helicopter transportation services to the oil and gas industry, has already made its regional presence strongly felt, having become the largest provider for such services in South-East Asia. Our oil and gas clients include Petronas Carigali, ExxonMobil, Carigali Hess, CPOC, Talisman, Petrofac, Newfield, TOTAL, KPOC, Lundin, WesternGeco, Hess, Shell, Tullow Oil, Mubadala Petroleum, CGG Veritas, ConocoPhillips, INPEX Offshore and PTTEP. At present, Weststar Aviation Services own a fleet of Sikorsky and AgustaWestland helicopters used exclusively to provide offshore support services for multinational oil and gas companies.
