Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

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Leonardo helicopters have gained significant market share in the offshore services market, not only for oil and gas exploration but also renewable energy exploitation. This has driven demand for “modern, capable, and safe rotorcraft technologies,” according to the company.
Energy support operations are expected to continue growing during the next five years, with key drivers being wind farm support, harbor pilot shuttle flights, and dedicated search-and-rescue assistance.
“Sustainability is becoming more and more critical,” the company said, with more use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) helping mitigate CO2 impact. Five AW169s and four AW139s operated by HeliService flew transport operations for Vestas’ Baltic Eagle wind farm project. While helping with the program to build 50 wind turbines, the helicopters were powered by a 40% SAF blend, which offers greenhouse gas reduction of 38% compared to jet-A.
“This was the first time that SAF-fueled helicopters with such a high blend rate were used for an entire part during the construction phase of an offshore wind farm operation,” said Leonardo.
In offshore service, nearly 500 Leonardo helicopters are flying, achieving the largest market share in terms of deliveries from 2014 through 2024—60% on average in the past five years. Leonardo attributes this high share of the market to “a modern, capable product portfolio mix to respond to or even exceed the evolving requirements in terms of performance, productivity, technology, and safety standards; and a comprehensive range of service and training capabilities leveraging proximity, digital solutions, and a data-driven approach.”
The global Leonardo fleet has flown nearly 3 million flight hours, including the light AW119 and AW109 models. Of the global fleet of Leonardo helicopters, 14% are operated in the offshore energy market but they log nearly one-third of the total annual flight hours. Compared with 2019, Leonardo helicopter numbers have grown 16% and flight hours rose 25%.
In addition to the best-selling AW139, the AW189 is “the most successful super-medium type today,” according to the company, although the AW169 “has played the greater role in this position, covering the five- to nine-tonne weight class spectrum.” These types brought unique features to the rotorcraft market, including main gearbox run-dry capability exceeding the 30-minute regulatory standard and full ice protection.
The AW169 offers an auxiliary power unit mode that enables all main systems to run while the rotors are stopped. “The AW139 and AW189 in particular are ideally positioned to continue to lead this market for long-range operations, outperforming aging heavier and bigger types,” Leonardo said.
The company is leveraging data collection from its in-service fleet’s “intensity of operations” and using that for constant improvement as well as optimizing service quality, scheduled maintenance, product and component reliability enhancement, spare availability, mission procedures, and training. All of the other markets that Leonardo serves benefit from what it learns from the energy market fleet, including VIP transport, EMS, search and rescue, law enforcement, disaster relief, firefighting, and utility operations.
“In terms of reach,” the company explained, “the product range allows [Leonardo] to cover short- to long-range operations depending on the type of energy industry activities the helicopters and crews are called to support, and this might mean introducing also the AW609 tiltrotor in the future.”

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