With a market share of 40% Leonardo is the world leader in multi-engine helicopters for the VIP segment. A record also confirmed in the UK, where Leonardo is the leading helicopter manufacturer for both corporate and private use. A position that the company wants to further strengthen with the renewal of the Distribution Agreement signed at the EBACE Show in Geneva, with its main partner on the British and Irish market: Sloane Helicopters (Sloane). The agreement concerns the extension of the distribution agreement in the 2019-2021 period for the AW109 GrandNew, AW109 Trekker and AW169 models in VIP configuration, with a forecast of sales of at least 8 helicopters within the 2021.
The most modern and complete range of products with avionics and avant-garde navigation systems, together with high performance and safety and comfort standards, allow Leonardo to maintain a position of world leadership in the helicopter market for the VIP / corporate segment which also includes government transport services (including Heads of State and Government), as well as charter services.
Sloane said: "We are pleased and honored to be able to continue our close collaboration with Leonardo. The AW109 helicopter series and the AW169 have consolidated their position in the corporate / VIP market segment, representing a point of reference. As the only Distributor in the region for over 20 years, Sloane Helicopters, having no rivals in understanding customer needs, continues to leverage this experience by offering the best solutions through sales and after-sales support ".
The partnership with Sloane has led to the sale of around 80 helicopters to date. In the wake of the significant successes of the first variants of the AW109 and the AW109 GrandNew, the new AW109 Trekker starts off with the right footing on the market of the region with 3 orders already registered. The AW109 GranNew and the AW109 Trekker share the same characteristics in terms of power, rotors, the widest cabin in the category and the best performance in terms of maximum speed. GrandNew and Trekker present at the same time a different digital avionic suite and, in the first case, the retractable trolley and, in the second case, the skates. Each model provides customers with different options based on their specific requirements. Between Grand / GrandNew and Trekker, to date, orders in the world amount to 450 units.