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| AgustaWestland AW189 | |
|---|---|
| Name | AgustaWestland AW189 |
| Caption | AW189 in service |
| Type | Medium-lift helicopter |
| Manufacturer | AgustaWestland |
| First flight | 12 December 2011 |
| Introduced | 2014 |
| Status | In service |
AgustaWestland AW189 is a twin-engined, medium-lift helicopter produced by AgustaWestland, designed for offshore drilling, search and rescue, air ambulance, and utility roles. Derived from the AgustaWestland AW139 family, the type entered service in the 2010s and competes with types such as the Sikorsky S-92, EC225, and NHIndustries NH90. The AW189 has been procured by energy companies, governmental agencies, and private operators across Europe, Asia, and North America.
The AW189 program was announced by Leonardo S.p.A.'s predecessor AgustaWestland to meet growing demand from offshore oil and gas operators and civil aviation customers. Development followed from design work on the AW139 and AW149 families, with the prototype conducting its maiden flight on 12 December 2011 at the Vergiate facility. Certification processes involved authorities including the EASA, the FAA, and national regulators in United Kingdom and Italy. Industrial partners and suppliers included major aerospace firms and subcontractors from Germany, France, and United States supply chains.
The AW189 features a five-blade main rotor and a four-blade tail rotor, twin turboshaft engines mounted in the engine bay with modular gearbox architecture shared with the AW139 series. The fuselage is a stretched derivative tailored to carry up to 16 passengers for offshore transport, incorporating crashworthy seats and pressurization options for medevac configurations. Avionic suites range from basic IFR fit to full glass cockpits integrating systems from suppliers associated with Honeywell, Rockwell Collins, and Thales Group. Safety features and redundant systems align with certification criteria emphasized by EASA and operators such as Babcock International and CHC Helicopter in North Sea operations.
Early operators trialed the AW189 in North Sea oil fields and Sakhalin operations, with operators deploying the type for crew transfer and search and rescue patrols. The airframe saw service with corporate flight departments and national agencies conducting maritime surveillance and disaster relief missions after events requiring humanitarian aid. Notable deployments include operations supporting Offshore platform logistics in Norway and United Kingdom sectors and medevac missions coordinated with NHS trusts and regional health authorities. The helicopter has been involved in incident investigations overseen by agencies such as the Air Accidents Investigation Branch and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada when applicable.
- AW189 standard passenger/utility variant configured for up to 16 passengers used by commercial energy companies and private operators. - AW189 SAR modified with long-range fuel systems, rescue hoist, and mission consoles for organizations like Bristow Group and Babcock International. - AW189 EMS equipped for air ambulance roles with stretcher systems and medical suites operated by regional health providers and companies like PHI, Inc.. - Proposed militarized or navalized derivatives studied in collaboration with defense ministries such as those of Italy and United Kingdom for roles overlapping with maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare concepts.
Operators include commercial energy transport firms and government agencies across multiple countries. Notable operators and organizations that have acquired or evaluated the type include Bristow Group, CHC Helicopter, Babcock International, regional emergency medical services in United Kingdom NHS regions, offshore service providers in Norway, Russia’s energy sector firms supporting Sakhalin operations, and private flight departments in United Arab Emirates and China. Military and coastguard interest has been shown by naval and maritime agencies in Italy and other European Union member states exploring maritime variants.
- Crew: 2 pilots - Capacity: up to 16 passengers (standard) - Powerplant: 2 × turboshaft engines (seats and engine types vary by customer) - Main rotor: five-blade rotor system - Role equipment: configurable for offshore drilling support, search and rescue, air ambulance, and utility lift
Category:Leonardo helicopters Category:Medium-lift helicopters