AgustaWestland AW139 Medium Twin-Engine Helicopter, Italy / UK / USA

The AW139 (formerly known as the AB139) is a medium twin-turbine helicopter, which was developed by Bell Agusta Aerospace, a joint venture of Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. of the USA and AgustaWestland.

In November 2005, Bell announced that it was selling its stake in the AB139 programme to AgustaWestland. Following the sale, the helicopter was renamed AW139 in February 2006.

The AW139 is available in both civil and military configurations and is capable of carrying up to 15 passengers or 2,500kg (5,500lbs) useful load. Civil applications include passenger transport, law enforcement, utility and offshore oil support. Other roles include search and rescue, cargo lift and fire-fighting.

KEY PLAYERS

A number of international companies are involved in the programme including Pratt & Whitney of Canada, Honeywell of the USA, PZL Swidnik of Poland, Liebherr of Germany, Kawasaki of Japan and others.

The AW139, along with the BA609, is built at Agusta's Final Assembly Line in Vergiate plant, Italy. An AW139 assembly line has been built at the Agusta Aerospace Corporation plant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The first AW139 built at the new facility was delivered in December 2006. A second assembly line was added in February 2008.

All parts and components for both lines come from the same sources and the aircraft is identical whether assembled in Italy or in the USA.

DEVELOPMENT AND CERTIFICATION

The first AW139 made its maiden flight in February 2001. Italian certification was granted in June 2003 and US certification in December 2004. The first AW139 helicopter was delivered to Elilario of Italy in March 2004 and the second to the government of Namibia in September 2004. The AW139 has been selected by more than 80 customers for more than 300 helicopters. Over 100 have been delivered.

Recent orders include: six for the Irish Air Corps (first delivered August 2006), 20 for SEACOR Holdings Inc for use in offshore oil operations, eight for the United Arab Emirates Air Force, two for the Estonian Border Guard (first delivered October 2007), three for the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency for search and rescue (to be operated by CHC Scotia), five for the Spanish Marine Safety Agency (SASEMAR, first delivered December 2007), three for the Queensland Department of Emergency Services (ordered in June 2006), one for the Beijing Public Security Bureau (delivered in July 2007), one for the Italian Civil Protection (ordered July 2006), four for the Nigerian government (ordered in September 2006), the first three of a requirement of up to 24 for the Japanese Coast Guard (ordered in October 2006), two for the Los Angeles Fire Department (ordered in March 2007), 13 for CHC Helicopter, ten for Gulf Helicopters, two for the Italian Coastguard, two for the South Korean Coastguard and two for the Dutch Police. Two helicopters entered service with the US Customs and Border Protection in August 2007.

The AW139 helicopter had been selected by Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS), a joint venture established by Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, as part of their proposed aviation solution for the US Coastguard Deepwater program. The AW139 would provide the VRS (VTOL Recovery and Surveillance aircraft) element and replace the HH-65 Jayhawk. The US Coast Guard has since decided to upgrade the HH-65 rather than procure new helicopters.

The US139 is being offered for the US Army's light utility helicopter requirement. In February 2006 the helicopter was flown to the Cairns Army Airfield in Fort Rucker, Alabama for the LUH Source Selection Performance demonstration (SSPD).

The AW139 military version is capable of carrying up to 15 troops or six stretchers with four medical attendants. It can be fitted with gun pods, rocket launchers and air-to-air missiles attached to two removable external supports.

DESIGN

A five-bladed fully-articulated main rotor with four-bladed canted tail rotor gives high tail rotor ground clearance, heavy duty nose-wheel tricycle landing gear is retractable for higher speed. Full crashworthy systems and seats are standard while an icing protection system is optional. Low noise signature, high-speed refuelling is possible from either side.

Two large 'plug-in' type sliding doors allow easy access to the cabin. The large baggage compartment (3.4m³) is accessible from the cabin and externally through large doors on both sides.

COCKPIT

The AW139 has a Honeywell Primus Epic modular / integrated glass cockpit. The Primus Epic system is offered in four configurations: basic VFR (Visual Flight Rules), IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) three-axis Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS), IFR four-axis digital AFCS and a search and rescue version.

The IFR versions have three or four Honeywell DU-1080 8in x 10in active matrix liquid crystal displays. The Honeywell DU-1080 AMLCDs flat panel display provides advanced graphics generation capabilities and two Cursor Control Devices (CCDs) provide additional control.

The system architecture is built on two Modular Avionics Units (MAUs) that house the processing for most of the functions within the system. By integrating the functions into an MAU, powerful computer processing can be shared to do multiple tasks that previously required individual computer platforms.

The system features a powerful central maintenance computer function that will provide operators with a high level of troubleshooting and system maintenance support. Maintenance personnel may use the cockpit displays or a laptop computer to perform aircraft rigging, sensor calibration and avionics systems diagnostics.

ENGINES

The AW139 is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT6C-67C turboshaft engines with Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC).

The engines have a maximum continuous power of 1,531hp (1142kw) each and give a maximum cruise speed of 290km/hr and a maximum range (without reserves) of 750km. Due to the power reserve of the engines, safe flight is ensured with One Engine Inoperative (OEI) at maximum take-off weight.

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