Hanneke Weitering is a writer and editor with AIN covering advanced air mobility and new flight technologies. She became an aviation journalist and joined the AIN team in the summer of 2022 after reporting on spaceflight and astronomy for six years at Space.com. After earning a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, she moved to New York City to pursue a master’s degree in science, health, and environmental reporting at New York University&#039;s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. She is now based in Seattle near Boeing Field and spends her free time exploring nature in the Pacific Northwest.

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Hanneke Weitering

Leonardo inked orders for a dozen helicopters on the opening day of Verticon 2025. The ships will be primarily used for offshore, search-and-rescue, or HEMs missions.
Petroleum Air Services (PAS), which flies helicopters for Egypt’s oil industry, signed for five AW169 light intermediate twin helicopters with skid undercarriages.&nbsp;According to Leonardo, the PAS deal will mark the skidded variant’s entrance into the energy market.
Deliveries to PAS are expected to begin in the third quarter of 2026. PAS, which already operates a fleet of six AW139 medium twins, was named an authorized service center for Leonardo last year.
UK-based Gama Aviation signed for five new helicopters in the light-intermediate category: two AW139s and three AW169s. Gama will use the AW139s for offshore transport missions, while the three AW169s will be employed for emergency medical services in the UK. Leonardo expects to begin these deliveries in 2027 or 2028.
Alaska’s North Slope Borough, the state’s northernmost borough, is looking to boost its emergency response capabilities with a pair of super-medium AW189s with full icing-protection systems. North Slope intends to use them for search-and-rescue operations, as well as emergency medical evacuations.

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Rotary-wing division is under leadership of Will Fanshawe, director, Tangmere Aircraft Sales

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Verticon 2025

In this article

Leonardo AW139

Leonardo AW169

Leonardo AW189

Leonardo

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