AgustaWestland Expecting Growth In Civilian Helicopter Market

As AgustaWestland’s Military division continues to sustain under the possibility of being blacklisted by the Indian government, its civilian helicopter production is taking off.

The world’s second largest helicopter maker is expected to begin civil rotorcraft production in the UK if the company wins the SAR competition, according to AgustaWestland Chairman Graham Cole.

Earlier last month, AgustaWestland was awarded its first export order for eight AW159 Wildcat from South Korea. According to Cole, the deal could grow to 40 units because the company also pursues contracts in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand.

According to AgustaWestland, between 2004-2011 the company is said to have raked in shares worth $4.17 billion in the commercial rotorcraft market. Meaning rivals Bell and Sikorsky placed second after Eurocopter.

AW’s three variants have a similar "cockpit concept" and systems from pilot seats to trim actuators. The family approach is a "significant improvement" for AgustaWestland, according to Bruno Spagnolini, head of AgustaWestland.

"The lessons we learned are immediately transferable and the fact that there is a lot of common equipment made for a fast development process,” he was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, AgustaWestland in collaboration with and Bell are working on systems at the Italian company's Cascina Costa headquarters as well as AgustaWestland's facility at Arlington, Virginia. Two prototypes have flown more than 700h, with a third and fourth to join the flight-test programme in 2013 and 2014 respectively, reported Flight Global.