Blueway AS orders one more AW139 Helicopter

21 June 2011 – AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that Blueway AS of Norway has signed a contract for one more AW139 medium twin helicopter. This aircraft will be used for offshore transport operations. 

This order adds to the contract for three AW139s placed in 2010 and is part of a Framework Agreement for the purchase of a total of five AW139s plus options for additional four. This latest purchase is further evidence of the customer’s satisfaction with the best selling helicopter in its class for offshore operations and strengthens the partnership between AgustaWestland and Blueway AS.

AgustaWestland is continuing its efforts to make the AW139 an even more competitive helicopter for the benefit of operators by introducing a range of upgrades as well as new role equipment. Developments introduced include a Maximum Gross Weight increase to allow higher payload and longer range missions, the unique Full Icing Protection System for real all weather capabilities and a 4-axis AFCS with SAR modes. The offshore market, where more than one third of AW139 sales have been logged so far, will be able to take advantage of many of the product enhancements AgustaWestland is implementing to improve the AW139’s capabilities.

State-of-the-art technology, outstanding performance, low operating costs and the only helicopter in its class to meet the latest safety standards, have made the AW139 the helicopter of choice in the medium twin market. With its power reserve, the AW139 delivers Category A (Class 1) performance from a helipad (elevated or at ground level) at maximum take-off weight with an unmatched one engine inoperative capability. The standard configuration provides seating for twelve or fifteen passengers in a large and bright 8.0 m3 cabin with excellent ease of access and egress via large sliding cabin doors. Excellent payload and performance ensure unmatched productivity for offshore operations. Almost 140 customers from over 50 countries have ordered more than 530 helicopters to perform a wide range of roles including offshore transport, EMS/SAR, VIP/corporate transport, law enforcement, utility and government missions.

Blueway AS has provided helicopter services since 1986 and today is Northern Europe’s leading integrated helicopter company. Blueway operates a fleet of 26 helicopters and provides a range of helicopter services within the oil and gas, infrastructure, environment and search & rescue markets. Blueway operates under the DanCopter, Airlift, Blueway Offshore Norway and Vertech Offshore brand names. DanCopter provides passenger transport services to oil and gas companies in the North Sea from bases in Denmark as well as for Shell in Nigeria. Airlift operates onshore infrastructure and environment services in Norway, Sweden and Finland as well as the Search & Rescue operations on Spitsbergen for the Governor of Svalbard. Blueway Offshore Norway operates offshore crew change contracts from bases in Norway Additionally, its subsidiary Vertech Offshore provides heavy lift maintenance (flair tip replacements) on offshore installations worldwide.