The Leonardo AW109 Trekker helicopter debuts on the European market in the VIP version. The first helicopter of this type sold in Europe will fly to the UK thanks to Sloane Helicopters, Leonardo's distributor in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and will be on display these days at the Monaco Yacht Show (MYS), one of the most important international luxury showcases in the field of yachts, held by the 25 at the 28 September in the Monegasque Principality. The private helicopter currently exhibited at the show will then be used by the Apollo Air Services company for charter transportation tasks in the UK.
The AW109 Trekker is the latest model within Leonardo's light twin-engine helicopter range. The AW109 Trekker on display at Leonardo's stand at MYS (QA13 / Quai Antoine 1er) joins a fleet of VIP helicopters that can count on leadership numbers on the UK and Irish market, also thanks to the over twenty-year partnership with Sloane distributor: almost 100 machines operating today, for almost the 90% represented by the various models of the AW109 series (Power, Grand and GrandNew). A second market in numbers only to that of Brazil where Leonardo helicopters in VIP configuration are almost 130, serving above all private individuals who fly on the 400 helipads of the capital San Paolo.
Leonardo also makes Italian Style fly around the world. A leadership supported by the numbers. Leonardo can boast a share of 44% in the twin-engine VIP helicopter market. Currently the fleet of Leonardo's civil helicopters in service in the world for purposes of public order, offshore transport, utilities, rescue and VIP / corporate transport has more than 2.300 machines. Of these, a significant part, higher than 35%, is represented precisely by those used for VIP transport: more than 830 helicopters with private, charter, scheduled, corporate, air taxi, air tourism, institutional and government transport.
High performance, comfort, operational flexibility, safety and reliability, after-sales support, attractive design, but above all the high level of customization based on the most disparate requests, satisfied thanks to the elegance of the interiors, obtained using the most refined materials: these are just some of the fundamental requirements that a Leonardo helicopter is able to satisfy considering the increasingly stringent requirements of private operators, businessmen, companies and public authorities. In a nutshell, the made in Italy applied to the world of the rotary wing through the widest and most modern range of helicopters dedicated to private and executive transport: from the single-engine machine from 1,8 tons (AW119Kx), to the three engines that fits into the class from 16 tons designed primarily for government employment (AW101). Moving on to the twin-engine models: the AW109 (in its various versions), the best-seller of the company AW139, the AW169 and the AW189.
A market penetration capacity, that of Leonardo, which the arrival of the AW109 Trekker is destined to increase, thanks to its features that allow it to combine the qualities of the AW109 Grand, long recognized by operators, such as the its spacious cabin, with cutting-edge Genesys Aerosystems avionics and skates, particularly suitable for helicopters on yachts and on any surface. In addition to a combination unmatched in its reference class in terms of cost / benefit, technology and performance.
Sloane Helicopters will maintain two AW109 Trekker helicopters in the UK. Benefiting from the quality that made the AW109 series of helicopters the benchmark in their category, Sloane will perform in-flight demonstrations of Leonardo's new light twin-engine, allowing potential operators to appreciate its unique features.
DEPTH:
The AW109 Trekker combines excellent performance, cutting-edge technology and high levels of safety to offer customers a unique combination of comfort and capacity. The most sought-after materials and the high level of craftsmanship make each helicopter unique and guarantee passengers a flight of elegance and style.
The AW109 Trekker is equipped with a latest generation Genesys Aerosystems glass cockpit that can be configured according to customer needs: one or two pilots, visual or instrumental flight.
The large and bright cabin can be configured in a variety of layouts and boasts an effective soundproofing system to offer passengers an extremely pleasant flight. Large sliding doors on both sides ensure easy entry and exit, while the luggage compartment offers high load capacity.
It can carry 6 / 7 passengers and has a maximum take-off weight of 3.175 kg. Over the 60, AW109 Trekkers have already been sold to customers around the world to date for multiple missions such as VIP transport, offshore, utility, EMS / SAR, public order.