AgustaWestland has announced that Waypoint Leasing (Ireland) Limited (“Waypoint”), the largest independent global helicopter leasing company, has agreed to acquire an additional 18 helicopters from the AW Family, including the AW169 light intermediate, AW139 intermediate and AW189 super medium twin types.
The aircraft are expected to be delivered from 2016 through 2019 and will operate across a range of missions, including EMS, Search and Rescue, and Oil & Gas. Waypoint currently owns 31 AW Family aircraft in its global fleet.
Ed Washecka, Chief Executive Officer of Waypoint Leasing, said, “This acquisition of 18 AW Family aircraft strengthens our partnership with AgustaWestland and will allow us to offer operators some of the most modern, high performance helicopters on the market, suitable for a range of missions from EMS to Oil & Gas operations. We are pleased to extend our relationship with AgustaWestland and look forward to taking delivery of these helicopters over the next four years.”
The AW169, AW139 and AW189 form AgustaWestland’s Family of new generation helicopters covering the four to nine-tonne weight classes. These helicopters all possess the same high performance flight characteristics and safety features whilst sharing the same common cockpit concept and design philosophy. This approach delivers real cost savings in areas such as training, maintenance and support for operators having two or three of the models in their fleets. Orders for all models from the Family have been made globally by leading operators who are already benefitting from the unprecedented fleet management and operational advantages of operating at least two out of the three types.
Waypoint Leasing is a global helicopter leasing company that provides operating lease and financing solutions to helicopter operators worldwide. Headquartered in Limerick, Ireland, Waypoint Leasing differentiates itself with a senior management team that has direct helicopter operating and leasing experience in key helicopter markets around the world, having leased helicopters across Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and North and South America. Waypoint Leasing serves a wide range of sectors including oil and gas, emergency medical service, search and rescue, firefighting and governmental support.