AgustaWestland AW139
Encyclopedia
The AgustaWestland AW139 is a 15-seat medium sized twin-engined helicopter
manufactured by AgustaWestland
. Originally designed and developed jointly by Agusta and Bell Helicopters
and marketed as the Agusta-Bell AB139, it was redesignated the AW139 when Bell withdrew from the project. The AW149
is a medium-lift military helicopter being developed as an enlarged version of the AW139.
launched a programme to develop a replacement for the Bell Huey family of helicopters, which had been built in very large numbers both by Bell and Agusta, with a potential market of 900 aircraft being predicted. In 1998, Bell and Agusta entered into an agreement, setting up a joint venture, Bell/Agusta Aerospace Company (BAAC) to develop both the Italian helicopter and a tiltrotor
aircraft, which became the Bell/Agusta AB139 and Bell/Agusta BA609 respectively.
The AB139 is a conventional layout twin-engined transport helicopter. It has a five-bladed fully articulated main rotor with a titanium
hub and composite blades and a four-bladed tail rotor. It is fitted with a retractable tricycle landing gear. It is flown by a crew of two pilots, with up to 15 passengers accommodated in three rows of five. It is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT6C turboshaft engines.
The helicopter is being marketed for use in a number of roles including Law Enforcement/Emergency Medical Service, Executive Transport, Search and Rescue, Maritime and Offshore Oil Operations.
The first orders were placed by Bristow Helicopters
on 26 September 2000. The first AW139 flew on 3 February 2001 at Vergiate in Italy, and the first production aircraft on 24 June 2002. The first customer aircraft was delivered in 2003.
The company has orders for over 430 helicopters of which over 200 had been delivered by January 2009. It was a contender in the U.S. Army Light Utility Helicopter Program (2004–2006), but lost to the Eurocopter EC145-based UH-72A Lakota.
In 2007 a second production line at the AgustaWestland Aerospace plant in Philadelphia, United States
was established.
At the Farnborough Air Show
in 2006, AgustaWestland announced the AW149 as a multi-role battlefield helicopter variant of the AW139.
The Irish Air Corps
began taking delivery of its first AW139s in 2007. The type will provide army co-operation capability to the Air Corps. They replace the Aerospatiale Alouette III
in service.
In late 2006 it was announced that the Japan Coast Guard
had selected the AW139 as the replacement for its fleet of Bell 212 helicopters. Twenty-four AW139s are expected to be delivered, beginning in 2008.
In June 2010, it was announced that Agusta and Rosvertol (Russian Helicopters) would build a plant in Tomilino
, Moscow Region, jointly producing AW139s from late 2011.
AW139
AW139 (long nose configuration)
]] 
/
Hong Kong/
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
manufactured by AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland is an Anglo-Italian helicopter design and manufacturing company. It was formed in July 2000 when Finmeccanica S.p.A. and GKN plc agreed to merge their respective helicopter subsidiaries to form AgustaWestland with Finmeccanica and GKN each holding a 50% share.AgustaWestland is now a...
. Originally designed and developed jointly by Agusta and Bell Helicopters
Bell Helicopter Textron
Bell Helicopter is an American rotorcraft manufacturer headquartered in Hurst, Texas, near Fort Worth. A division of Textron, Bell manufactures military helicopter and tiltrotor products in and around Fort Worth, as well as in Amarillo, Texas, and commercial rotorcraft products in Mirabel, Quebec,...
and marketed as the Agusta-Bell AB139, it was redesignated the AW139 when Bell withdrew from the project. The AW149
AgustaWestland AW149
-See also:-External links:* * * * * * *...
is a medium-lift military helicopter being developed as an enlarged version of the AW139.
Design and development
In 1997, the Italian helicopter manufacturer AgustaAgusta
Agusta is an Italian helicopter manufacturer. It is based in Samarate, Northern Italy. It is a subsidiary of Finmeccanica. The company was founded by Count Giovanni Agusta in 1923, who flew his first airplane in 1907...
launched a programme to develop a replacement for the Bell Huey family of helicopters, which had been built in very large numbers both by Bell and Agusta, with a potential market of 900 aircraft being predicted. In 1998, Bell and Agusta entered into an agreement, setting up a joint venture, Bell/Agusta Aerospace Company (BAAC) to develop both the Italian helicopter and a tiltrotor
Tiltrotor
A tiltrotor is an aircraft which uses a pair or more of powered rotors mounted on rotating shafts or nacelles at the end of a fixed wing for lift and propulsion, and combines the vertical lift capability of a helicopter with the speed and range of a conventional fixed-wing aircraft...
aircraft, which became the Bell/Agusta AB139 and Bell/Agusta BA609 respectively.
The AB139 is a conventional layout twin-engined transport helicopter. It has a five-bladed fully articulated main rotor with a titanium
Titanium
Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color....
hub and composite blades and a four-bladed tail rotor. It is fitted with a retractable tricycle landing gear. It is flown by a crew of two pilots, with up to 15 passengers accommodated in three rows of five. It is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT6C turboshaft engines.
The helicopter is being marketed for use in a number of roles including Law Enforcement/Emergency Medical Service, Executive Transport, Search and Rescue, Maritime and Offshore Oil Operations.
The first orders were placed by Bristow Helicopters
Bristow Helicopters
Bristow Helicopters is a British helicopter airline originally based at Aberdeen Airport, Scotland, part of the Bristow Group based in Houston, Texas, USA....
on 26 September 2000. The first AW139 flew on 3 February 2001 at Vergiate in Italy, and the first production aircraft on 24 June 2002. The first customer aircraft was delivered in 2003.
The company has orders for over 430 helicopters of which over 200 had been delivered by January 2009. It was a contender in the U.S. Army Light Utility Helicopter Program (2004–2006), but lost to the Eurocopter EC145-based UH-72A Lakota.
In 2007 a second production line at the AgustaWestland Aerospace plant in Philadelphia, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was established.
At the Farnborough Air Show
Farnborough Air Show
The Farnborough International Airshow is a seven-day international trade fair for the aerospace industry which is held in even-numbered years in mid-July at Farnborough Airfield in Hampshire, England....
in 2006, AgustaWestland announced the AW149 as a multi-role battlefield helicopter variant of the AW139.
The Irish Air Corps
Irish Air Corps
The Air Corps is the air component of the Defence Forces of Ireland providing support to the Army and Naval Service, together with non-military air services such as search and rescue and the Ministerial Air Transport Service...
began taking delivery of its first AW139s in 2007. The type will provide army co-operation capability to the Air Corps. They replace the Aerospatiale Alouette III
Aérospatiale Alouette III
The Aérospatiale Alouette III is a single-engine, light utility helicopter developed by Sud Aviation. It was manufactured by Aérospatiale of France, and under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in India as Hal Chetak and Industria Aeronautică Română in Romania.The Alouette III is the...
in service.
In late 2006 it was announced that the Japan Coast Guard
Japan Coast Guard
The , formerly the Maritime Safety Agency, is the Japanese coast guard. Comprising about 12,000 personnel, it is under the oversight of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and is responsible for the protection the coast-lines of Japan...
had selected the AW139 as the replacement for its fleet of Bell 212 helicopters. Twenty-four AW139s are expected to be delivered, beginning in 2008.
In June 2010, it was announced that Agusta and Rosvertol (Russian Helicopters) would build a plant in Tomilino
Tomilino
Tomilino is an urban locality in Lyuberetsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia. Population: In terms of population, Tomilino is the largest urban-type settlement in Lyuberetsky District....
, Moscow Region, jointly producing AW139s from late 2011.
Variants
AB139- Original Italian-built production aircraft, 54 built.
AW139
- Designation change from 55th aircraft onwards, built in Italy and the United States.
AW139 (long nose configuration)
- Long nose variant with increased room for avionics built in both Italy and the United States.
Notable accidents and incidents
- 25 August 2009, Gulf Helicopters, A7-GHC Doha, Qatar. Tail boom failure on ground.
- 2010 Spanish Maritime Safety Agency AW139 crash: On 21 January 2010, Spanish Maritime Safety Agency AW-139SAR (registration EC-KYR), crashed into the sea close to AlmeriaAlmeríaAlmería is a city in Andalusia, Spain, on the Mediterranean Sea. It is the capital of the province of the same name.-Toponym:Tradition says that the name Almería stems from the Arabic المرية Al-Mariyya: "The Mirror", comparing it to "The Mirror of the Sea"...
. 3 people died. - 3 July 2010, B-MHJ Hong Kong, ditched into Hong Kong harbour after technical problems.
- 23 February 2011, South Korean Coast GuardRepublic of Korea Coast GuardThe Korea Coast Guard is responsible for maritime safety and control off the coast of South Korea. The KCG is an external branch of Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs at peacetime...
AW139 went missing off the southern island of JejuJeju-doJeju-do is the only special autonomous province of South Korea, situated on and coterminous with the country's largest island. Jeju-do lies in the Korea Strait, southwest of Jeollanam-do Province, of which it was a part before it became a separate province in 1946...
. 5 people died. - 2 May 2011, Gulf Helicopters, Doha, Qatar, Tail rotor failure on ground.
- 30 June 2011, Kuala Lumpur, Westar Aviation AW139 made a hard landing.
- 17 August 2011, Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau AW139 aircraft went missing into a reservoir in a northern suburb of Beijing (China), with five people aboard.Two confirmed fatalities, two missing.
- 19 August 2011, PR-SEK Senior Taxi Aereo, declared an emergency to the control tower of Macaé and made a forced landing in the Atlantic Ocean, about 100 km off the coast of Rio de Janeiro. Four confirmed fatalities.
Military and government operators
- civil protection (5 sur commande)
- Ambulance Service of New South WalesAmbulance Service of New South WalesThe Ambulance Service of New South Wales , an agency of the Department of Health of the New South Wales Government, is the main provider of pre-hospital emergency care and ambulance services in the state of New South Wales, Australia....
(Wollongong and Bankstown) - Government of QueenslandGovernment of QueenslandThe Government of Queensland is commonly known as the "Queensland Government".The form of the Government of Queensland is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1859, although it has been amended many times since then...
- EMQ Helicopter Rescue (Brisbane and Cairns)
- Chinese People's Armed Police Force
- Cyprus Police - Cyprus Police operates 2 AW139 for the security of external borders, fighting illegal immigration and other crime.
- Estonian Border Guard- Operate 3 AW139s
- Irish Air CorpsIrish Air CorpsThe Air Corps is the air component of the Defence Forces of Ireland providing support to the Army and Naval Service, together with non-military air services such as search and rescue and the Ministerial Air Transport Service...
- Operate 6 AW139s
- Corps of the Port Captaincies - Coast Guard (4 ordered, 3 in service by November 2010)
- Guardia di FinanzaGuardia di FinanzaThe Guardia di Finanza is a Italian law enforcement agency under the authority of the Minister of Economy and Finance. Like the Carabinieri, it is part of the Italian Armed Forces. The Guard is essentially responsible for dealing with financial crime and smuggling; it has also evolved into Italy's...
- Japan Coast GuardJapan Coast GuardThe , formerly the Maritime Safety Agency, is the Japanese coast guard. Comprising about 12,000 personnel, it is under the oversight of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and is responsible for the protection the coast-lines of Japan...
- Tokyo Metropolitan Police DepartmentTokyo Metropolitan Police DepartmentThe Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department serves as the police force for the entire Tokyo metropolis. Founded in 1874, it is headed by a superintendent general, who is appointed by the National Public Safety Commission and approved by the prime minister.The Metropolitan Police, with a staff of more...
- Korea Coast Guard (delivery 2009)
- Lebanese Army - The Lebanese Air ForceLebanese Air ForceThe Lebanese Air Force is the aerial warfare branch of the Lebanese Armed Forces. The seal of the air force is constituted of a Roundel with two wings and a Lebanese Cedar tree, surrounded by two laurel leaves on a blue background.-History:...
operates one executive AW139 given as a gift by Emir of QatarQatarQatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
Sheikh Hamad bin KhalifaHamad bin KhalifaSheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani is the ruling Emir of the State of Qatar since 1995.Sheikh Hamad was the appointed Heir Apparent of Qatar between 1977 and 1995 and at the same time Minister of Defense. In the early 1980s he led the Supreme Planning Council, which sets the Qatar's basic economic...
to be used by the Lebanese president General Michel SuleimanMichel SuleimanMichel Suleiman or Sleiman is the President of Lebanon. Before assuming office as President, he held the position of commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces. After LAF commander Émile Lahoud took office as president in November of 1998, Suleiman succeeded him, taking his place in December...
.
- Malaysian Maritime Enforcement AgencyMalaysian Maritime Enforcement AgencyThe Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency , the Malaysian Coast Guard version, is the principal government agency tasked with maintaining law and order and coordinating search and rescue operations in the Malaysian Maritime Zone and on the high seas. It is in effect the Coast Guard of Malaysia...
: 3 delivered in late 2010
- Qatar Emiri Air Force (18 on Order)
- Sociedad de Salvamento y Seguridad MarítimaSociedad de Salvamento y Seguridad MarítimaThe Spanish Maritime Safety Agency, in spanish: Sociedad de Salvamento y Seguridad Marítima also known as SASEMAR or Salvamento Marítimo is a sea search and rescue organisation, that operates in Spain.Is the body in charge of maritime traffic control, safety and rescue operations, as well as...
9 delivered - 1 crashed
- Trinidad & Tobago Air Guard (TTAG) — Ordered 4: 2 received May 2011. Other 2 expected delivery from 2011/2012
- UAE Air ForceUnited Arab Emirates Air ForceThe United Arab Emirates Air Force is the air force of the United Arab Emirates . Its predecessor was established in 1968, when the Emirates were still under British rule. Since then, it has undergone a continual reorganization and expansion in terms of both capability and numbers of aircraft...
- New Jersey State PoliceNew Jersey State PoliceThe New Jersey State Police is the state police force for the state of New Jersey. It is a general-powers police agency with state wide jurisdiction when requested by the Governor, designated by Troop Sectors.-History:...
- Los Angeles City Fire Department
- Maryland State PoliceMaryland State PoliceThe Maryland State Police is the official state police force of the state of Maryland. The Maryland State Police is headquartered at 1201 Reisterstown Road in the Pikesville CDP in unincorporated Baltimore County.-Organizational structure:...
- United States Customs and Border Protection
Civilian operators
- CHC HelicopterCHC HelicopterCHC Helicopter is one of the world’s largest helicopter services company specializing in: Transportation to offshore oil and gas platforms; Civilian search and rescue services; Helicopter maintenance repair and overhaul...
- OrngeOrngeOrnge is the air ambulance service for the province of Ontario and for the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care...
(Ontario Air Ambulance), Ontario, Canada (10 on order for 2010-12 delivery) - Shock Trauma Air Rescue SocietyShock Trauma Air Rescue SocietyThe Alberta Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society was formed in Calgary, Alberta to provide emergency medical care and transport to the critically ill and injured...
(STARS), Alberta, Canada (2 on order for 2011 delivery)
/
Hong Kong/
- Sky Shuttle Helicopters - 6 provide scheduled passenger service between Hong Kong, Macau and China.
- Bel Air AviationBel Air AviationBel Air A/S is a Danish helicopter operator, headquartered at Holsted Heliport in Vejen Municipality. Bel Air operate a fleet of 5 helicopters and has been providing helicopter services in Denmark for 15 years....
operate three AW139 for offshore work in the North Sea and the Gulf of Finland.
- Petroleum Air ServicesPetroleum Air ServicesPetroleum Air Services is an airline based in Cairo, Egypt. It provides oil industry support services and has extensive helicopter operations. The airline also operates commercial passenger services within Egypt and to regional cities. Its main base is Cairo International Airport..- History :The...
- CopterlineCopterlineCopterline Limited was Finland's largest helicopter airline. In 2004 the company ferried over 75,000 passengers. On December 19, 2008, Copterline confirmed that it had ceased its scheduled service between Helsinki and Tallinn. On 15 February 2010, Copterline filed for bankruptcy, citing inability...
- CopterlineCopterlineCopterline Limited was Finland's largest helicopter airline. In 2004 the company ferried over 75,000 passengers. On December 19, 2008, Copterline confirmed that it had ceased its scheduled service between Helsinki and Tallinn. On 15 February 2010, Copterline filed for bankruptcy, citing inability...
, replacing Sikorsky S-76Sikorsky S-76The Sikorsky S-76 is an American medium-size commercial utility helicopter. The S-76 is powered by two turboshaft engines, which drive both the main and tail rotors, each with four blades...
s.
- CHC NetherlandsCHC HelicopterCHC Helicopter is one of the world’s largest helicopter services company specializing in: Transportation to offshore oil and gas platforms; Civilian search and rescue services; Helicopter maintenance repair and overhaul...
- Dutch Aviation Police
- LufttransportLufttransportLufttransport is a Norwegian helicopter and fixed-wing airline that operates primarily air ambulance helicopters and planes for the Norwegian and Swedish governments...
- Heliportugal operates AW139
- Gulf HelicoptersGulf HelicoptersGulf Helicopters is a helicopter services provider mainly servicing the Oil and Gas industry in Middle East, Yemen, North Africa and India. It is a 100% subsidiary of Gulf International Services under the Qatar Petroleum umbrella, and has its headquarters in Doha, Qatar. Gulf Helicopters...
- Offshore transport use.
- Saudi AramcoSaudi AramcoSaudi Aramco , officially the Saudi Arabian Oil Company, is the national oil company of Saudi Arabia.Saudi Aramco is the world's largest and most valuable privately-held company, with estimates of its value in 2011 to be $7 trillion USD.Saudi Aramco has both the largest proven crude oil reserves,...
- 14 used for offshore and medical use.
- Helicópteros del SuresteHelicópteros del SuresteHelicópteros del Sureste is dedicated to air transport in helicopter based in Muchamiel, Alicante, Spain.Helicópteros del Sureste is currently the primary responsibility of the division "On-Shore", within the group INAER, from which serve as Emergency Medical and Civil Defense, Prevention and...
- Abu Dhabi AviationAbu Dhabi AviationAbu Dhabi Aviation Co. is an airline based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It serves oil-fields and economic facilities in the United Arab Emirates and other Arab states. Its main base is Abu Dhabi International Airport.-History:...
- CHC ScotiaCHC HelicopterCHC Helicopter is one of the world’s largest helicopter services company specializing in: Transportation to offshore oil and gas platforms; Civilian search and rescue services; Helicopter maintenance repair and overhaul...
, on behalf of HM Coastguard