Leonardo Helicopters' AW169 Seeking New Emirati Roles

DUBAI—Leonardo Helicopters is sending its AW169 twin-engine helicopter on a tour of Emirati rotorcraft operators.

The OEM is hoping the 4.8-metric ton aircraft can find new suitors in the law enforcement, search-and-rescue and offshore transport missions.

Leonardo has shipped a skidded landing gear-equipped AW169 borrowed from Italy’s Guardia di Finanza financial police to appear at the Dubai Airshow here before embarking on the national tour. Leonardo officials will not say which operators the tour will target, but the AW169 already is in service with local operators Abu Dhabi Aviation and Falcon Aviation Services.

The tour comes as the OEM prepares to embark on a new wave of upgrades for the aircraft, Riccardo Ronchini, Leonardo’s product marketing lead for the AW169, tells journalists at the Dubai Airshow. The skidded variant of the aircraft is about to get an increase in maximum takeoff weight to 5.1 tons.

“The increase will bring the performance of the AW169 in line with aircraft such as the Bell 412,” Ronchini says.

The gross weight increase is largely being driven by parapublic and military customer requirements, as many of the aircraft in the backlog are being purchased by such operators, notably the Italian and Austrian militaries, as well as Italy’s Carabinieri and the aforementioned Guardia di Finanza. The gross weight increase is due to be certified by the end of 2024.

Leonardo also is investing in increasing the passenger capacity of the aircraft for the offshore mission, raising seating numbers from eight to 11, based on rules set by the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers. The new configuration requires a revised fuel tank design that reduces range and adds additional emergency exits.

Leonardo is hoping the changes to the passenger configuration will appeal to offshore operators looking to replace platforms such as the Bell 212, 412 and AS365 Dauphin.