Rotorcraft
Orders Pour In for AgustaWestland at Heli-Expo

By the time that Heli-Expo ends tomorrow, AgustaWestland expects to sign agreements at the show for more than 100 helicopters worth more than $923 million. Some of the deals are still in their early stages, but the outlook is certainly positive, company officials told AIN.

On Saturday, the day before the show opened, AgustaWestland announced an order from Lease Corporation International valued at $380 million (including options) for a mix of AW139s, AW169s and AW189s. Then an announcement came yesterday that Gulf Helicopters had signed “a preliminary sale contract” for 15 AW189s to support offshore transport. In a separate ceremony, also yesterday, Bond Aviation Group signed “a framework agreement” for 15 helicopters–10 firm orders and five options for a mix of AW139s, AW169s and AW189s.