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AB139

The new AB139 - medium-twin engine helicopter is capable of carrying up to 15 passengers or 2,500kg (5,500 lbs) useful load, at 157 knots, in the most spacious cabin and with power to spare. The two Pratt & Whitney, Canada, PT6C-67C engines ensure the AB139 can maintain high cruise speeds in excess of 150 knots at all weights, high temperatures and altitudes, with ample power margins. In addition, Category “A” Class 1 performance, without payload loss, is assured. AB139 customers will enjoy high productivity with an aircraft designed to meet today’s JAR29/FAR29 standards.

The AB139 combines the benefits of proven technology and the latest new-generation system integration and compliance with the demanding JAR/FAR 29 standards. This aircraft is setting the new standard against which all medium-twin helicopters will be measured to satisfy the operator's needs of today and tomorrow.

The AB139 made its debut public appearance in July 2002 at the Farnborough Air Show, UK, where it made daily displays demonstrating its agility, power margins and low noise levels, all hallmarks of this new benchmark medium twin helicopter.

On June 18, 2003 the AB139 received its Italian IFR Type Certification. Mr. Di Palma, Managing Director of the Italian Certification Air Worthiness Authority (ENAC), signed and handed over the AB139 Type Certificate to Mr. Amedeo Caporaletti, CEO AgustaWestland and Chairman of Bell/Agusta Aerospace Company, at a ceremony at the Paris Air Show, Le Bourget. The certification was the culmination of 1600 hours of ground and flight test programs.

Twenty-five customers have demonstrated their confidence in the AB139, thus providing a two-year order backlog for Bell/Agusta Aerospace Company. The major market segments of Offshore, Corporate, VIP, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Law Enforcement are all represented.

Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS) selected AB139 as its recommended helicopter for the US Coast Guard Deepwater Program. The AB-139 Vertical Recovery and Surveillance (VRS) is proposed as the Integrated Deepwater System medium-range recovery aircraft, and would begin introduction in 2014. These helicopters will be used as medium range responders for offshore operations, and can provide shore-based aviation surveillance capability. In addition, these aircraft will be used to meet rotary-wing Non-Deepwater Aviation Demand missions and are capable of deploying aboard NSCs and OPCs.

Following the ICGS recommendation that the AB139 be the USCG Deepwater helicopter solution a number of US Government Agencies are showing a keen interest in this new state of the art medium twin-engine helicopter that brings new levels of speed, comfort, reserve power and space for crew, passengers and survivors alike. These features make the AB139 ideally suited as an Emergency Response vehicle, whether overland or at sea, as does its fully integrated Honeywell Primus Epic System cockpit and display providing for IFR operations.

Assembly for the AB139 will initially be undertaken in Italy at Agusta's Vergiate plant, near Milan, prior to the establishment of a Bell AB139 assembly facility in Texas, which will be coupled with support, spares distribution and training for customers in the USA.

US139 Light Utility Helicopter (LUH)

On 03 October 2005 AgustaWestland, Inc. (AWI) headquartered in Reston, Virginia and L-3 Communications Integrated Systems (L-3/IS) of Waco, Texas, announced their partnership and product entry in the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) competition at the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) Annual meeting in Washington D.C. Prime contractor AWI and principal partner L-3/IS will offer the US139 to the Army for LUH.

The US139 is a customized, non-developmental variant of the modern, FAA certified, AB139 twin-engine helicopter now in service worldwide. It has the most spacious, functional and flexible cabin in its class, capable of carrying 15 passengers or 4 stretchers with 6 passengers. The US139 is capable of cruising in excess of 165 knots with a useful load of more than 6,000 lbs -- designed from its inception as the replacement to the UH-1 "Huey."

L-3/IS will perform final assembly and customization of Government specific avionics for the US139 helicopter at their Waco, Texas location utilizing Lean Manufacturing/Six Sigma facilities designed and laid out for this effort. In addition, L-3/IS will provide Contractor Logistic Support for the US139 LUH fleet.

In addition to its outstanding performance, capability and size, the US139 is compliant to the new demanding FAR/JAR 29 standards. It also offers true Category A Performance certification, meaning that it's capable of flying away at max gross weight on only one engine. The US139 has growth potential -- able to exceed today's requirements with the flexibility to meet the demands of the future.