Universal Vulkaan places an order for 16 Leonardo Helicopters for India

Makes available total of 30 units from types AW109 Trekker, AW 119, AW139, AW169, and AW09

Universal Vulkaan Aviation Pte. Limited., the India distributor for Leonardo Helicopters, is bringing the latest range of Leonardo helicopters to the Indian civil aviation market following their recent partnership announcement. After already signing the pre-sales contract for 5 units of AW 09 machines in January 2024, UVA has ordered 11 units from types AW109 Trekker, AW139, AW169, from the Leonardo Helicopters range to serve the growing needs of this sector. This is in addition to the 14 Helicopters that were purchased by the Vulkaan Group from the Pre-owned market, which include the AW 119Kx and AW 109 Trekker. This will bring the available inventory of UVA to be 30 machines. Each model offers unique features and capabilities, catering to a wide range of applications. This deal will ensure quicker delivery times for customers, underscoring Universal Vulkaan’s commitment to meet the evolving needs of customers in the fast-growing India market.

Harinder “Billa” Commar of Universal Vulkaan Aviation said, “Our partnership with Leonardo Helicopters marks a significant milestone for Universal Vulkaan and the Indian civil aviation industry. We are excited to introduce the latest range of advanced machines from Leonardo that surpass what’s currently available in the Indian market. The models – AW109, AW139, AW169, and AW09 – each bring unique features and capabilities, catering to diverse usage needs. The soon-to-launch AW09 will be a game changer for the single-engine Indian market.  We are confident these state-of-the-art helicopters will set new benchmarks in the Indian civil aviation industry. With a 45 percent share over the last 10 years, Leonardo is the world leader in the twin-engine VIP/corporate helicopter market including private, charter, and VVIP/Government transport services, thanks to the most modern and largest product range featuring state-of-art avionic and navigation systems along with class-leading performance, safety and comfort standards. With our efficient distribution process, we aim to ensure quicker delivery times, providing our customers with an unparalleled advantage.”

Stefano Villanti, SVP Sales and Marketing at Leonardo Helicopters said, “At EBACE we demonstrated our growing competitiveness in the VIP-Corporate market, with strong interest in both our multi-engine and new AW09 single-engine helicopters. We are extending our reach to a wider range of users and are extremely pleased with the acceptance of our modern, safe, and sustainable technology. Our new Indian distributor, Universal Vulkaan Aviation Pte Limited has signed a contract for three twin-engine helicopters (one AW109 GrandNew, one AW169, and one AW139) and preliminary sales contracts for five AW09s as part of a larger agreement for 11 twin-engine helicopters slated for delivery over the next three years. This partnership highlights our commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions for India’s rapidly growing civil aviation market.”

The models ordered include:

AW109 Grand and SP – The AW109 series continue to be highly popular for VIP/Corporate transport. he latest multi-role light twin-engine helicopter, the AW109 Trekker guarantees superb utility through outstanding performance, payload, and cabin space. Its flexible, large, and elegantly designed cabin can comfortably accommodate up to six passengers. Equipped with rugged skid landing gear, a state-of-the-art glass cockpit, and several crashworthy features, this helicopter ensures optimal safety. The bright, soundproofed cabin provides passengers with a quiet, safe, and comfortable flight.

AW139: The AW139, the world’s most important helicopter program since its certification in 2004 and the bestselling type in its category, has logged orders for more than 1400 units from over 290 customers in over 90 countries to date. The fleet of over 1200 units in service has now exceeded 4 million flight hours. A market leader in its class, the AW139 embodies elegance, style, and sophistication, surpassing all other intermediate helicopters in capability, speed, and ride quality. Its large and unobstructed cabin can comfortably carry up to 15 passengers and is easily accessible via an automatically deployed footstep. This allows is to offer the widest scope of missions including corporate transport, emergency medical service, search and rescue, law enforcement, offshore transport, and government duties. It also offers ample room for accessories, including telecommunications, entertainment systems, a dedicated workspace, refreshment area, and stowage.  In addition, this type includes the widest cabin in its category featuring high modularity for rapid reconfiguration, a unique 60+ min run-dry capable main gear box for enhanced reliability and safety and up to 1000 certified kits. 

AW169: Characterised by elegance, style, comfort, and sophistication, the AW169’s cabin can easily accommodate up to eight passengers and is designed for a relaxed flight thanks to excellent soundproofing and an enhanced anti-vibration system. The AW169 continues to prove the aircraft of choice in its class for offshore transport and wind farm support, The AW169’s unique-in-class Cabin Management System allows passengers to access and play their favourite media on board in a bright, and extremely comfortable interior. The dual zone air-conditioning system makes it possible to manage the cockpit and cabin temperatures independently.

AW09: THE AW09 OFFERS TECHNOLOGIES, CABIN VOLUME AND PERFORMANCE OF A TWIN-ENGINE AT THE COST OF A SINGLE-ENGINE It is a next-generation, high-performance, single-engine helicopter offering built-in versatility to tackle multiple missions. Rotorcraft companies highly welcome the AW09 for its outstanding characteristics and multirole capabilities that represent a significant evolution compared to existing products in this category. The AW09 perfectly complements Leonardo’s product range in the Long Light Single-segment, introducing an all-new design aircraft to sustain long-term competitive positioning in this weight category. Capable of carrying up to eight passengers, the AW09 delivers next-generation technology and safety. Its combination of high cruise speed, long range, and low noise profile make it a flexible and efficient solution for today’s rotary wing market. The spacious, versatile, and quiet cabin features a flat floor and high ceiling to maximize the available space, as well as individual crashworthy seats. The interior can be reconfigured quickly and easily for multi-mission operations and there are sliding and clamshell doors for easy access.