AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica Company, is pleased to announce that Sloane Helicopters Ltd has signed a contract for ten additional helicopters comprising AW109 Power and GrandNew light twin engine models. This latest order extends to 2012 the multi-year multi-aircraft contract and distribution agreement signed in February 2006. This purchase marks the entrance of the GrandNew light twin model into the UK market.

Sloane Helicopters has been supporting AgustaWestland’s UK and Ireland sales since 1996. This latest contract is clear evidence of AgustaWestland’s increasing competitiveness and market position in the UK as well as in the Irish commercial helicopter market. This order will benefit Sloane’s customers through dramatically reduced delivery times which will also help AgustaWestland to continue to dominate the VIP and corporate transport market in the UK and Ireland where the company already has over 70% of the market.

The AW109 Power is a highly versatile light twin engine helicopter offering outstanding levels of performance with low operating costs, delivering superior speed and productivity. The AW109 Power continues to set the standard in its class. Over 470 helicopters have been ordered from nearly 50 countries so far to perform a wide range of missions including VIP/corporate transport, law enforcement, emergency medical services, harbour pilot shuttle, maritime duties and training.

The GrandNew features the most modern developments in avionics while retaining the outstanding Grand’s characteristics. The GrandNew is the first type certified light twin (CS/JAR/FAR 27) to enter service with a new EFIS featuring Synthetic Vision and the first helicopter in this class on the market fully compliant with the latest advanced global positioning system-based navigation requirements for all weather operations. The GrandNew offers operators unprecedented opportunities for the exploitation of rotorcraft capabilities setting a new standard in the helicopter market. Following its launch in February this year the GrandNew has achieved outstanding success in the market with orders for over 50 units placed for various applications. Orders for around 290 helicopters from the Grand series have been placed by almost 150 customers in over 30 countries worldwide, to perform many missions including VIP/corporate transport, passenger transport, EMS, SAR, harbour pilot shuttle, maritime patrol and water pollution monitoring.

Sloane Helicopters also acts as a Service Centre, maintenance facility and Type Rating Transition centre for AgustaWestland helicopters in the UK. The distribution agreement allows Sloane Helicopters to market and sell the AgustaWestland civil product line in the UK and Ireland for a wide range of applications including corporate transport and air ambulance operations.