Leonardo’s AW169 light intermediate twin-engine helicopter is adding an increased gross weight (IGW) kit and 11-seat configuration that is fully compliant with the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers Report 690 safety standard. Both options will be available with AW169s equipped with skid landing gear. The IGW kit boosts mtow to 11,243 pounds from the standard 10,582 pounds. The IGW kit facilitates the 11-passenger configuration or an additional one-hour fuel supply and is available for retrofit for existing aircraft with skid gear. The 11-seat configuration also features a new modular fuel tank system and two additional Type IV emergency exits in the cabin, increasing the total number to six.
According to Leonardo, the 11-seat configuration will allow a radius of action of up to 75 nm (seats full) and offer capabilities typically only achieved by intermediate helicopter types with mtow exceeding 5.5 tons. Certification of the IGW increase is expected in 2024, while approval of the 11-seater configuration with a new modular fuel tank is targeted for 2026. Over 320 AW169s are on order, with around 170 units delivered from the Vergiate (Italy) final assembly line to operators in more than 30 countries. The global fleet has accumulated over 170,000 flight hours. The fleet leader is a helicopter air ambulance operator in Sweden, which has logged more than 3,700 flight hours.