Indonesian charter operator Sayap Garuda Indah (Heli SGI) plans to modernize its fleet with Leonardo’s AW09 single-engine helicopter, making it the launch customer for the type in Indonesia. The Bali-based company has signed an agreement with the Italian manufacturer’s Southeast Asia distributor, Helitech Asia, to take an initial 10 aircraft with the potential to add five more.
The AW09 is the latest addition to Leonardo’s product line, having joined its portfolio with the 2020 acquisition of Swiss manufacturer Kopter. The single-pilot helicopter, which can be configured to carry up to eight passengers, has a range of 430 nm and a cruise speed of 140 knots.
Heli SGI mainly provides both rotary and fixed-wing flights for customers in the mining, tourism, and corporate transportation sectors. The company’s helicopter fleet currently consists entirely of Bell products, including the 206L, 407, 412, and 212 models. It also operates Cessna 206T light aircraft. It runs an approved maintenance facility, with a significant inventory of spare parts for the aircraft types it operates.
“This strategic collaboration showcases our dedication to investing in cutting-edge technologies and underscores our vision for the future of aviation in Indonesia,” commented Heli SGI CEO François Lassale. “By leveraging this cooperation, we aim to provide our customers with a modern, advanced, and operationally flexible platform as we expand our capabilities into diverse sectors of the industry."