AgustaWestland, an Anglo-Italian helicopter manufacturing company, has delivered two AW189 super medium helicopters to Falcon Aviation Services (FALCON) of Abu Dhabi, in offshore transport configuration.
The company says that the deliveries and entry into service in the UAE of the AW189 was marked by ceremony at Marina Mall Helipad in the presence of Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Bin Khalifa.
“It is a beginning of a new era for Falcon. With the modernization of our helicopter fleet we set a higher standard for offshore operations in the region. Being the first operator of AW189s in the United Arab Emirates, our involvement in achieving the ever growing demands of safety, reliability and fuel efficiency within the MENA region will deepen” , said Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Bin Khalifa, Chairman of Falcon Aviation Services.
According to AgustaWestland, the order was signed in October 2014 and expands Falcon’s fleet of AgustaWestland helicopters, which already includes light helicopters such as the Grand and GrandNew, and will shortly be joined by the new AW169.
AW189
The 8.3 tonne AW189 is optimized for offshore transport and search and rescue (SAR) missions.
The cabin is configured with 16 seats as standard with the option for a high density 19-seat layout. The company notes that AW189 meets the latest international regulatory safety requirements (EASA / FAA Part 29, JAR OPS 3 / EU-OPS) and is fully compliant with the latest requirements of the oil and gas producers helicopter operations guidelines.
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