Leonardo wins AW139 order from Falcon Aviation

Leonardo and Falcon Aviation Services announced a new order for an AW139 intermediate twin-engine helicopter. The aircraft, ordered by Falcon Aviation’s owner His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will feature a VVIP 8-seater configuration, hinged doors and a range of latest generation on board comfort and entertainment equipment. Falcon Aviation, one of the UAE’s leading aviation service providers, will operate the helicopter for VVIP Charter. The aircraft is expected to enter service in 2027, further enhancing the company’s high-end offering in the region. With nearly 1,500 units ordered by more than 300 customers in around 90 nations, and over 4.5 million flight hours logged to date since its certification in 2004, the AW139 has proven extremely successful for the widest scope of missions. The AW139 delivers outstanding capabilities, technology, and safety to meet stringent requirements from operators for tasks in harsh conditions to maximise effectiveness. This type features state-of-the-art avionics with advanced navigation and collision avoidance systems to enhance situational awareness and reduce pilots’ workload, unmatched speed, power margins, and overall performance; the widest cabin in its category featuring high modularity for rapid reconfiguration; a unique 60+ min run-dry capable main gear box for enhanced reliability and safety; and up to 1000 certified kits. In UAE the AW139 is highly successful for both passenger and offshore transport, public services and rescue duties. Falcon Aviation has a long-term partnership with Leonardo as a helicopter operator and has played a key role in deploying Leonardo’s cutting-edge rotorcraft technology across the UAE. The company has placed orders for several AW109 GrandNew light twins, AW169 intermediate twins and AW189 super medium twin-engine helicopters for energy support operations both in the UAE and internationally as well as for passenger transport duties. In 2024, Falcon Aviation placed an order for its first AW139 to support offshore transport, making this operator another prime user of the entire AW Family of latest generation helicopters of Leonardo, a unique concept design based on commonalities across the AW169-AW139-AW189 models in terms of certification and safety standards, components, cockpit layout and appearance, training and technical support approach. Aramco acquires C-27J multi-mission planes for firefighting, other missions (PHOTO: Leonardo) Leonardo will supply two C-27J multi-mission and firefighter aircraft to Aramco for cargo transport, firefighting, oil spill response, and medical evacuation operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Mukamalah Aviation Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aramco, operating under the brand name “Aloula Aviation,” will operate the C-27Js and also act as service center for the type. Deliveries are expected starting from 2027. Aloula Aviation is the 20th C-27J operator, and Leonardo records 95 aircraft ordered. This latest achievement marks the first order from a civil operator for the C-27J in a multi-mission and firefighter configuration, following initial success in other markets as well as the entrance of this model in the Middle East. This provides further evidence of the platform’s versatility, uniquely combining cargo transport and firefighting and disaster response capabilities with a high level of customisation. The program benefits from the continued investments into expanding the C-27J’s capabilities and technologies in terms of latest avionics and performance as well as tailored solutions for the task, allowing the type to meet emerging rigorous requirements from prime users. The longstanding partnership between Leonardo and Aramco in the helicopter segment supporting the energy industry and rescue duties in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will then be expanded to the fixed wing business. This is expected to further strengthen the role of the C-27J in the Middle East and Africa. With the C-27J Next Generation Fire Fighter, Leonardo offers an innovative, high-tech solution for firefighting and disaster response, providing a turboprop airplane able to work with other fixed and rotary wings assets. What makes the C-27J unique is the second-generation MAFFS II (Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System), a “roll-on/roll off” transportable module that can be loaded and unloaded as required in only 90 minutes. The module consists of a 7,500-liter tank that can be refilled on the ground with water and retardant liquid in under 10 minutes. It also has a spray nozzle emerging through the left hatch of the fuselage. The C-27J Next Generation Fire Fighter is a real “ecosystem,” in line with and supporting Leonardo’s sustainability plan, that is scalable and adaptable for different purposes. It is a modular tool capable of reducing costs by increasing the effectiveness of worldwide firefighting, and it includes disaster response capabilities. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Kay Rolland at [email protected]