AgustaWestland is showcasing its range of modern high performance military and commercial helicopters at Aero India 2013, which is being held at Air Force Station Yelahanka, Bengaluru, Feb. 6 to 10. Helicopters being promoted at Aero India include the AW101, 12 of which are now in the process of delivery to the Indian Air Force for government transport duties. Other helicopters to be featured include the AW109LUH light twin-engine military helicopter, the best-selling AW139 12-15 passenger medium-twin engine helicopter and the naval variant of the NH90 helicopter.
Geoff Hoon, AgustaWestlands managing director, International Business said, India is an important and growing market for AgustaWestland, so at Aero India we are promoting the most modern and capable rotorcraft available today, confident that we can build on our past successes and fulfil the future requirements of both the Indian armed forces and commercial customers.
He added, We will also be using Aero India to help pursue our strategy to expand and develop our relationships with Indian companies to ensure we are a part of Indias growing aerospace industry. Indian Rotorcraft Limited, our joint venture with Tata Sons, is a prime example of this strategy and our long term commitment to India.
In the military department, AgustaWestland has a complete range of maritime helicopters ranging from the three-tonne AW109 right up to the 16-tonne AW101, which the company said can meet all future Indian Navy and Coast Guard requirements.
At 11-tonnes, AgustaWestland is offering the naval variant of the NH90 to the Indian Navy for its new anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare helicopter requirement. The NH90 is the biggest helicopter programme ever launched in Europe, with firm orders for 529 units to equip and modernize 19 services in 14 countries including the Armed Forces of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Greece, Oman, Australia, New Zealand, Spain and Belgium. Of those 529 firm orders, over 100 are for the NFH naval variant for the navies of Italy, France, Norway and The Netherlands.
The Indian Navys fleet of Sea King Mk42B helicopters, used for anti-submarine and anti surface warfare, is to undergo a mid-life upgrade programme. AgustaWestland, as the original equipment manufacturer, is bidding for this contract.
On the commercial side, AgustaWestland sold its first AW109 Power helicopter to the Government of Rajasthan in 2005. Since then, sales of its civil product range have taken off, with orders being placed for nearly 50 aircraft including additional AW109 Powers, the GrandNew light twin-engine helicopter, the AW119Ke and the AW139 medium twin-engine helicopter. AgustaWestland is a worldwide leader in the supply of corporate and VIP helicopters and is the last five years has been the market leader in India with over a 50 percent share of the commercial helicopter market.
AgustaWestland will certify two all new twin-engine commercial helicopters, the AW189 and AW169, in 2013 and 2014 respectively, which along with the in service AW139 form the new AgustaWestland family of helicopters covering the 4.5 to 8 tonne weight range. Customers of the new family of helicopters will benefit from the latest technology and safety standards, as well as a common approach to maintenance and training which will maximise effectiveness and significantly reduce overall operating costs.
AgustaWestland has appointed OSS Air and AirWorks as authorized service centres for its commercial helicopters in India. These companies provide a range of maintenance, spares, technical support and training services to the growing number of operators of AgustaWestland helicopters in India.
In 2010, AgustaWestland signed a joint venture agreement with Tata Sons Ltd for the final assembly, completion and delivery of AW119 commercial helicopters for the worldwide market. This company, Indian Rotorcraft Ltd., will produce the aircraft in Hyderabad, where an all-new facility is currently under construction.
The 8,000-square-meter facility is being built on a 10-acre site adjacent to the Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi International Airport and includes a main assembly building, flight hangar, office accommodation and outside helicopter landing pads. The facility will be capable of producing up to 30 helicopters per year and will be able to accommodate a variety of helicopter types, including the AW101. Final assembly of aircraft is scheduled to start in early 2014.
AgustaWestlands wholly owned subsidiary company, AgustaWestland India Pvt Ltd, is based in Delhi to co-ordinate the companys business activities in India. It also has a branch in Cochin that provides technical support to the Indian Navys Sea King helicopters.
AgustaWestland is proud to have been supplying helicopters to India for over 40 years, however, it can trace its heritage back to 1933 when the Indian Air Force received it first aircraft comprising four Westland Wapiti bi-planes. Eighty years later, in 2013, the Indian Air Forces newest aircraft, the AW101 helicopter, is entering service continuing the companys long and proud connection with the Indian armed forces.
