Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

Contributor

Mark Huber

Leonardo announced orders and commitments for 180 new helicopters on Tuesday at Heli-Expo.
The Helicopter Company (THC), owned by Saudia Arabia's Public Investment Fund, placed a firm order for 20 AW139 intermediate twins and inked a multi-year framework agreement for more than 130 Leonardo helicopters.
Air ambulance and helicopter services company Metro Aviation will take 30 AW09 singles in its role as distributor for the model in the U.S. and Canada. Metro also is supporting the AW09 by developing interiors and STCs for the aircraft and offering service and training for it. Metro operates a fleet of 170 helicopters and airplanes in 27 states and the District of Columbia.
Long-time Leonardo distributor for the UK and Ireland, Sloane Helicopters, has agreed to order nine AW09s, along with two AW109 Grand New and two AW109 Trekker light twin models. Sloane has delivered more than 110 Leonardo helicopters since 1995 and also represents the company’s Agusta VIP brand.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency has ordered four Leonardo AW189 super-medium twins through Galaxy Aerospace to meet its long-range search-and-rescue (SAR) mission requirement. The agency already operates three AW139 intermediate twins. The new helicopters will be delivered in 2025 and 2026. More than 140 AW189s have been ordered and 90 delivered worldwide.
LifeFlight Australia has committed to three more AW139s, in addition to orders for two others announced in late 2023 for its joint venture with StarFlight. These helicopters will boost LifeFlight’s AW139 fleet to 16 aircraft. Leonardo has delivered more than 130 helicopters to Australian customers and has an installed fleet of 60 AW139s there flying parapublic missions.

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Leonardo Lands Substantial New Orders

The company announces 50 orders at Heli-Expo

Air ambulance and helicopter services company Metro Aviation will take 30 AW09 singles in its role as distributor for the model in the U.S. and Canada.

Leonardo Lands Substantial New Orders 

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Amy Wilder

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.

Purchase marks continued investment in critical-care aircraft

Avincis Takes Delivery of Two New Airbus H145s

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.

Boeing is working on more improvements for the Apache and Chinook

Boeing Advances Apache and Chinook Rotorcraft Development

Sikorsky’s 210-knot compound helicopter appears in Paris

S-97 Raider Highlights Sikorsky Advances

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Agency says manual supplements should list fuel safety margins

FAA Flags Fuel Risk in Rotorcraft Sideward Maneuvers

The latest 412 utility version gains its first African sale

Tunisia Signs for Subaru Bell 412EPX

Aircraft armament specialist offers the HH-60W’s hybrid gun system for export sale

FN Debuts Helicopter Gun Systems

Honeywell will provide the MV-75 Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft with its ECS and APU

Bell Selects Honeywell for MV-75 Tiltrotor Systems

Matt Thurber

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

Heli-Expo 2024

In this article

Leonardo

More In Rotorcraft