AgustaWestland signs deal with Weststar at LIMA and launches Malaysia training academy
The contract was signed today by Tan Sri Syed Azman Syed Ibrahim, Group Managing Director of Weststar and Bruno Spagnolini, CEO, AgustaWestland, at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) exhibition and comprises five AW139s configured for offshore transport, one AW139 for VIP transport, two AW169s and two AW189s.
The contract is valued at approximately US$150 million (RM 470 million). Weststar will be the first operator worldwide to benefit from the commonality in design across the AW139, AW169 and AW189 family of new generations helicopters. 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 to 8.5 tonnes.
Tan Sri Syed Azman Syed Ibrahim, Group Managing Director of Weststar, said: “Weststar is proud to be associated with AgustaWestland. We want to continue this relationship in Malaysia and to expand the relationship to the region where the demand for this industry is ever increasing. As Weststar plans for its regional expansion, AgustaWestland and Weststar will continue to collaborate to provide quality services and products to support our operations."
Bruno Spagnolini, CEO, AgustaWestland, said: “We are delighted that Weststar has chosen AgustaWestland to meet its fleet expansion plans. We are sure our range of high performance new technology products will serve both Weststar and its customers exceptionally in the markets it serves. As the region’s largest AW139 operator and a major provider of offshore helicopter services we are also very pleased to have Weststar as one of the lead customers for both the AW169 and AW189.” The order marks the first sales in Malaysia for AgustaWestland’s new generation AW169 and AW189 helicopters. Deliveries of the AW189 are scheduled to start in 2014 and in 2015 for the AW169. AgustaWestland Malaysia Sdn Bhd will provide pilot and technician training services and comprehensive support services for the helicopters from its headquarters at Kuala Lumpur's Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport.
AgustaWestland Training Academy (AWTA) in Malaysia
The new AWTA is aimed at expanding the range and number of training courses available for pilots and technicians in the region. The Training Academy will be located at Kuala Lumpur's Subang - Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport and is part of AgustaWestland’s continued investment programme in its subsidiary AgustaWestland Malaysia Sdn Bhd. It is also planned that from 2013 an AW139 Full Flight Simulator (FFS) will be available in Malaysia, the first to be located in Asia. Sited in Kuala Lumpur, this new FFS will be a major asset supporting the AWTA in delivering a high standard of training to operators in the region.
John Ponsonby, Senior Vice President Training, AgustaWestland said: “With our growing business in South East Asia we are delighted to be able to offer training courses for our customers much closer to where their operations are based. This is just the start of what we believe will become a major regional training centre for AgustaWestland.” Vincenzo Alaimo, Managing Director, AgustaWestland Malaysia Sdn Bhd, added “We are delighted that the Training Academy, located at AgustaWestland Malaysia headquarters, will be opening in January to provide training for our expanding customer base in the region.”
The AWTA Malaysia will offer a range of courses for the AW109 Power, GrandNew and AW139 helicopters initially and expects to expand this to cover new types such as the AW169 and AW189 in the future. In 2012 over 20 courses will be available including type rating ground courses, general familiarization type training courses and airframe maintenance type training courses. Additionally an AgustaWestland pilot instructor will be available to provide flight transition courses, recurrent training and proficiency checks both at Subang Airport and at customer’s own bases. In early 2012 the training courses available at AWTA Malaysia will be listed on the AgustaWestland website www.agustawestland.com with the ability to register online. AgustaWestland Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of AgustaWestland, continues to play a major role in the Malaysian helicopter market.
Located at Kuala Lumpur's Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, AgustaWestland Malaysia’s regional maintenance and support centre is a Malaysian DCA approved maintenance and repair organisation. AgustaWestland Malaysia Sdn Bhd provides local support and training for the growing fleet of AgustaWestland customers in the region.
