AW139

AW139
Contando Estrelas · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	AW139
Type	Medium twin-engined helicopter
Manufacturer	Leonardo (AgustaWestland)
First flight	2001
Introduced	2003
Status	In service

AW139 is a medium twin-engined helicopter developed by AgustaWestland and produced by Leonardo. It serves diverse roles including search and rescue, offshore platform transport, law enforcement, and air ambulance duties for civil and military operators worldwide. The type competes with platforms used by organizations such as Sikorsky Aircraft, Bell Helicopter, Eurocopter, and fleet customers including Bristow Group and Babcock International.

Development

The programme originated in the late 1990s under Agusta during a market push responding to requirements from British Armed Forces, Italian Air Force, and commercial operators such as CHC Helicopter and Petrobras. Early development involved partnerships with suppliers including Honeywell, Hamilton Standard, and UTC Aerospace Systems and was shaped by lessons from projects like EH101 and acquisition discussions with Finmeccanica. The prototype conducted first flight milestones influenced by certification standards from European Union Aviation Safety Agency and Federal Aviation Administration, leading to type certification and initial deliveries to European and Asian customers.

Design

The airframe employs a five-blade main rotor and four-blade tail rotor with composite materials sourced from companies such as Fokker Technologies and Alenia Aermacchi. Avionics suites integrate mission systems by Garmin, Rockwell Collins, and Thales Group for navigation, weather radar, and autopilot capabilities aligned with requirements from Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom) and ENAC (Italy). Powerplants are twin Pratt & Whitney Canada engines driving a semi-monocoque fuselage with a cabin configurable for VIP transport, EMS stretchers, or utility sling load roles; survivability and safety attributes reference standards from NATO and ICAO.

Operational history

Operators introduced the type into service with notable deployments for search and rescue in the United Kingdom and Japan, offshore rotations for companies operating in the North Sea and Gulf of Mexico, and law enforcement missions for agencies in United States jurisdictions. The helicopter participated in multinational exercises alongside units from Royal Navy, United States Coast Guard, Italian Navy, and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, demonstrating interoperability with shipborne facilities and logistics networks such as Maersk and Shell plc support chains. Incident investigations referencing organizations like NTSB and AAIB have influenced subsequent maintenance and upgrade programmes administered by Leonardo and partners including Sikorsky for component support.

Variants

Production and export variants include versions adapted for air ambulance customers, maritime patrol conversions favored by Coast Guard agencies, and military-configured models for armed forces such as the Royal Thai Police, Kuwait Air Force, and Royal Malaysian Police. Special mission derivatives incorporate mission equipment from suppliers like FLIR Systems, Leonardo Helicopters systems integrators, and defensive aids suites compatible with standards set by NATO acquisition frameworks. Upgrade packages introduced over time added glass cockpit enhancements used by operators including Helikopter Service, Bristow Group, and national search-and-rescue providers.

Operators

Civilian and governmental operators span continents: European operators such as Babcock International, CHC Helicopter, and national services in United Kingdom and Italy; Asian customers including Japan Coast Guard, Republic of Korea Navy, and Philippine Air Force; Middle Eastern and African users like Royal Air Force of Oman and South African Police Service; and American operators including Los Angeles County Fire Department and municipal police departments that conduct public safety missions. Commercial offshore operators include Helicopter Transfer Services clients servicing platforms for TotalEnergies and Equinor.

Specifications

General characteristics - Crew: two pilots; configurations for medical or VIP cabin crews as used by NHS England aeromedical services and private operators. - Capacity: up to 15 passengers in high-density layouts favored by offshore oil companies and VIP transport operators. - Powerplant: twin Pratt & Whitney Canada turboshaft engines employed in multiple certified ratings for hot-and-high operations. Performance - Maximum speed and range figures compliant with mission profiles flown by organizations such as Bristow Group on North Sea rotations and long-range EMS flights coordinated with HEMS providers. - Avionics: integrated suites from Thales Group, Honeywell, and Rockwell Collins supporting IFR operations and search-and-rescue coordination with agencies like Coast Guard services.

Category:Helicopters