Exclases Holdings signs contract for AW169, AW139 and AW189 helicopters

Exclases Holdings has signed a contract for two AW169, two AW139 and two AW189 helicopters. This purchase marks the entrance of the new generation AW169 and AW189 models into the Russian market. Russian operators will 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. The AW139, thanks to its outstanding features, has been identified and selected by Russian industry as the benchmark helicopter in the light – medium weight category to meet a wide range of demanding civil requirements. A total of 12 AW139s were sold in Russia in 2011 to perform corporate transport operations and this latest contract brings the total to 20 in Russia and to 28 in the whole CIS area. The first two aircraft have already been delivered and further deliveries are expected to start in March this year. A civil AW139 assembly line is being set up in Russia, in Tomilino, near Moscow. Established and run by Helivert, a JSC “Russian Helicopters” and AgustaWestland Joint Venture, the assembly line will have the capacity to assemble up to 20 helicopters per year, with production expected to start in the near term and progressively increase to a steady state regime by 2015. The plant will meet the growing demand for the AW139 helicopter in both Russian and CIS civil markets.