Leonardo: Solid presence in the Brazilian VIP helicopter market with new orders

New contracts with a total of nearly € 30 million continue Leonardo’s success in South America’s VIP/Corporate multi-engine helicopter market.

São Paulo, Brazil: During the regions largest luxury helicopter expo, the Latin American Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (LABACE), Leonardo announced the marquee was building on it’s success in South America’s VIP/Corporate multi-engine helicopter market with new orders for a total of five units valued at nearly 30 million euro.

AW109 orders

The official distributor of Leonardo’s AW109 Trekker in Brazil, ICON, has signed firm orders for two units in VIP configuration. Additionally, one more VIP AW109 Trekker and one AW109 GrandNew were purchased by two different private regional operators. The Trekker combines the popular AW109 Grand airframe and large cabin with state-of-the-art Genesys Aerosystems core avionics and skids.

AW169 orders

Brazil has also readily embraced the new generation AW169. The country is adding one copy, upping the total AW169 VIP fleet to 5 by the end of 2019 which will join a further eight units in service across the Americas by then for VIP and EMS roles. The AW169 features top-notch soundproofing, entertainment systems, and extensive personal customization. Its Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) mode is a victory for safety and comfort, offering complete climate control (heat or cooling) and on-board system use and management while the rotors remain fully stopped. The large cabin seats up to 10 people with room to spare. Over 200 AW169s have been sold to customers worldwide to date to carry out VIP/Corporate transport, EMS/SAR, law enforcement, offshore transport, electronic news gathering, firefighting, utility and for government/military duties.

Globally Leonardo has a 40% market share in the VIP multi-engine segment. In South America that represents 220 helicopters, with over 170 of those flying in Brazil.