Singapore Airshow: Weststar orders 10 AW139s
Above: (left to right) Y.Bhg. General Tan Sri Muhammad Ismail Jamaluddin, Weststar Group CEO and Vincenzo Alaimo, managing director of AgustaWestland Malaysia Sdn Bhd .
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% market share in the intermediate category in the last five years.
Y.Bhg. General Tan Sri Muhammad Ismail Jamaluddin, 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 AW139s 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 eight tonnes.
The first AW139 entered service with Weststar Aviation Services on 1st April 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.
