AW139 Global Fleet Passes 1 Million Hour Milestone

AW139 Global Fleet Passes 1 Million Hour Milestone

AgustaWestland has announced that its popular medium helicopter, the AW139, has now  achieved 1 million hours of service experience since it entered service in 2003. The AW139 fleet leader has now flown more than 9,300 hours, so another milestone is likely to be passed this autumn.

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AW reports that 650 AW139s are in service, with an order backlog over another 120.  The type has 200 customers in over 60 nations.  AW claim a 56% share of the medium helicopter market in the last five years.  In April 2014 it was announced that that CHC had flown more that 100,000 hours on the type.   Gulf Helicopters and Weststar Aviation Services have both achieved more than 50,000 flying hours.

In that period, according to Aviation Safety Network, there have been six confirmed fatal accidents (only one, in Brazil, with an apparent airworthiness cause).  Interestingly 3 involved SAR operations.  UPDATE 11 Oct 2015: See our article on the G-LBAL accident.

Date

Reg Operator Fatalities Location
02-JUN-2008 A6-BBB Abu Dhabi Aviation 6 off Abu Dhabi, UAE
21-JAN-2010 EC-KYR Salvamento Marítimo (INAER) (SAR) 3 Mediterranean Sea, off Almería, Spain
23-FEB-2011 516 South Korean Coast Guard (SAR) 5 ca 93 km W of Jeju, S Korea
17-AUG-2011 G-110011 Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau (SAR) 4 Miyun, Beijing, China
19-AUG-2011 PR-SEK Senior Táxi Aéreo 4 Campos Basin, off Macaé, Brazil
13-MAR-2014 G-LBAL Haughey Air 4 Near Gillingham, Norfolk, UK

UPDATE 22 December 2017: The AW139 fleet globally has now exceeded 2 million hours.  With the AW139 fleet leader having exceeded 12,000 hours, nearly 900 units are today in service out of over 1000 ordered by more than 300 customers in 80 countries.  The second million was achieved in only 2.5 years.

Aerossurance has first hand experience of the AW139 and its operation and extensive air safety, helicopter design, airworthiness, operations and accident analysis experience.  For aviation advice you can trust, contact us at: enquiries@aerossurance.com