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. After spending several years in the Pacific Northwest, she has returned to the Knoxville area.

Science & Technology Editor

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.

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

Leonardo Announces Helicopter Orders at Verticon 2025

Dozen helicopters ordered by customers in Egypt, Alaska, and the UK

Leonardo announces new helicopter orders from Petroleum Air Services in Egypt, Gama Aviation in the UK, and North Slope Borough in Alaska.

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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.

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.

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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.

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

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Verticon 2025

In this article

Leonardo AW139

Leonardo AW169

Leonardo AW189

Leonardo

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