Story ID: 379
Leonardo Announces Helicopter Orders at Verticon 2025
By: Hanneke Weitering
Caption: Dozen helicopters ordered by customers in Egypt, Alaska, and the UK
Word Count: 205
Leonardo inked orders for a dozen helicopters on the opening day of Verticon 2025. The ships will be primarily used for offshore, search-and-rescue, or HEMs missions.
Petroleum Air Services (PAS), which flies helicopters for Egypt’s oil industry, signed for five AW169 light intermediate twin helicopters with skid undercarriages. According to Leonardo, the PAS deal will mark the skidded variant’s entrance into the energy market.
Deliveries to PAS are expected to begin in the third quarter of 2026. PAS, which already operates a fleet of six AW139 medium twins, was named an authorized service center for Leonardo last year.
UK-based Gama Aviation signed for five new helicopters in the light-intermediate category: two AW139s and three AW169s. Gama will use the AW139s for offshore transport missions, while the three AW169s will be employed for emergency medical services in the UK. Leonardo expects to begin these deliveries in 2027 or 2028.
Alaska’s North Slope Borough, the state’s northernmost borough, is looking to boost its emergency response capabilities with a pair of super-medium AW189s with full icing-protection systems. North Slope intends to use them for search-and-rescue operations, as well as emergency medical evacuations.