Helicopter manufacturer Leonardo announced two large orders at the Paris Air Show, from Lease Corporation International (LCI) and Sino-US Intercontinental Helicopter Investment (Shanghai), which operates a helicopter emergency medical services program in China. The two orders are worth a combined total of more than $231 million (€207 million).
The Sino-US contract for 17 helicopters includes two AW119Kx single-engine helicopters, 10 AW109 Trekker light twins and five AW139 intermediate twins. The deal is part of a distributorship agreement renewal between Leonardo (Chalet 240, Static B6) and Sino-US, and it makes Sino-US the exclusive distributor for the China civil, commercial and offshore helicopter market. This includes Hong Kong and Macau, and the distribution agreement will be extended to the entire Chinese market no later than mid-2019, according to Leonardo.
Both Leonardo and Sino-US will open a completions center and add more training capability. Sino-US has ordered more than 100 helicopters from Leonardo, nearly half the helicopter manufacturer’s total sold to Chinese customers.
LCI, the aviation division of the Libra Group, has ordered nine helicopters that include the newer models—AW139, AW169 and AW189. Deliveries begin this year and will be completed in 2018; this month LCI will take delivery of five AW169s and one AW139. With this order and previous orders, LCI’s total for Leonardo helicopters will climb to 49.
LCI will operate the new helicopters on search-and-rescue, maritime pilot transfer, emergency medical, training and utility missions. The company’s fleet will comprise about 60 Leonardo and Airbus helicopters, once all of the orders are completed.
“Today’s order marks just an interim state in our continued long-term fleet development plan,” said LCI executive chairman Crispin Maunder. “The record number of helicopters we have taken delivery of and placed on lease this month alone is a clear demonstration of the continuing strength and diversity of demand in the helicopter market and in particular that for Leonardo helicopters.”