Rotorcraft
Super-mid Helos are 'Defining' Products, Says Lessor
Until Leonardo AW189 and Airbus H175 entered service in 2014, no single civil helicopter bridged the gap between the midsize and heavy categories.
According to helicopter lessor Waypoint Leasing, helicopters in the new super-midsize category, such as this Leonardo AW189, are game-changing aircraft. The Airbus Helicopters H175 and to-be-certified Bell 525 are also included in this emerging segment. (Photo: Leonardo Helicopters)
According to helicopter lessor Waypoint Leasing, helicopters in the new super-midsize category, such as this Leonardo AW189, are game-changing aircraft. The Airbus Helicopters H175 and to-be-certified Bell 525 are also included in this emerging segment. (Photo: Leonardo Helicopters)

The super-medium helicopter is the “defining new commercial rotary product of the 2010s,” according to a report released this week by helicopter lessor Waypoint Leasing. Until the Leonardo AW189 and Airbus H175 entered service in 2014,there was not a single civil helicopter that bridged the gap between the medium and heavy helicopter market segments, the company said. Bell’s 525 Relentless, which is slated to enter service in 2019, will also fall into this new category.