Contributor - South America

Richard Pedicini

Leonardo Helicopters announced at LABACE a partnership with Icon Aviation to distribute the AW109 Trekker in Brazil, sealing a relationship dating back more than 20 years, to when Leonardo was Agusta and Icon was the air arm of the Casas Bahia retail chain.

 


“More than twenty-five years of selling Agusta, and we expect to continually increase the number of Leonardos in Brazil,” said Icon owner Michel Klein.

 


Robert Brant, vice president global sales-Americas, said Leonardo picked Icon because it is “very reputable. They’ve worked with the Agusta family for twenty years. Mr. Klein continues to invest in the future of aviation, even in a downturn in the economy. This is the kind of organization we want representing Leonardo.”

 


Icon executive director Décio Galvão told AIN about other Icon investments. “We now have five hangars, five FBOs at Congonhas airport, and on the 22nd we’re opening a new hangar in Brasilia. We’re also buying new aircraft, a Phenom 300, a CJB, and an Airbus B4. The CJBtwin- will be our first single turbine - we’re strong in twin-turbines, but now we’ll be moving into single turbines, too.” &nbsp;

 


“We’ve got more equipment, more FBOs, and we’re partnering with Leonardo. We’ll be selling the Trekker to start, but we hope to later handle more models.” He said that Icon will be basing a Phenom 300 at Santos Dumont airport for its Rio de Janeiro customers, rather than having to fly aircraft in from São Paulo.

 


Icon has grown quickly through purchases of established business aviation operators, a strategy that has brought with it a very heterogeneous fleet. Asked about that, Décio responded, “We also administer third-party aircraft. So we do have to deal with many different models anyways.” Business aviation in Brasilia has suffered heavily from operators fleeing higher fees demanded by the new airport concessionaire. So why is Icon opening there? “We take the opportunities we see,” Galvão said, “others left, and we took the biggest hangar available when the operator vacated it.”

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Icon Aviation and Leonardo Seal Partnership Deal

Leonardo Helicopters has signed a partnership for Icon Aviation to sell the A109 Trekker in Brazil.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charlotte Bailey

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

ATR 72 aircraft performs pre-modification flight in Toulouse

Kepplair Starts Converting ATR 72 Into Water Bombers

Curt Epstein

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Only the piston aircraft segment posted a decline

GAMA: Bizjets, T-props, and Rotorcraft Deliveries Up

Hanneke Weitering

Two captains held the prototype 33 feet above the water for 30 seconds

Regent Flies Electric Seaglider with Crew for First Time

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Icing approval would open year-round service to northern communities

Horizon Begins Icing Tests for Cavorite X7 eVTOL

Kerry Lynch

Deal to close this year

Bombardier To Grow Manufacturing Capacity with MHICA Buy

David Donald

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

The two NATO allies will purchase seven of the tanker/transport aircraft

Spain and Poland Agree to Buy A330MRTT Tanker Transports

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

GE Aerospace has tested the GE9X, Leap 1A, Leap 1B, and more with the 747.

GE Aerospace Flies Boeing 747 To Test New Engine Tech

Charles Alcock

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

More In Aircraft