The Italian Military’s two AW169 primary coaching twin engine helicopters just lately set a primary essential milestone by accruing 1,000 flight hours in operations. The kind has been in service with the Italian Military since July 2020 when the primary plane was delivered to the 2nd Military Aviation Regiment ‘Sirio’ primarily based in Lamezia Terme in Southern Italy, adopted by the second helicopter a couple of months afterwards. Italian Military quote “The 2nd Military Aviation Regiment ‘Sirio’ is the Italian Military flight Unit designated to review and confirm in flight the fundamental model of the plane, as a way to settle modifications aimed to its reconfiguration into the LUH navy model”. The introduction of the most recent technology coaching helicopter (designated UH-169B) permits the Italian Military to organize its crews for the longer term operational transition. This can be to an all-new superior multirole Mild Utility Helicopter (LUH) programme, developed from the AW169 dual-use baseline, which is aimed toward longer-term fleet modernisation and rationalisation plan. The 2 AW169 trainers will allow the Italian Military to familiarise itself with the platform’s primary traits in the course of the improvement of the brand new LUH. These have been equipped with complete turnkey logistical assist and a pilot/upkeep technician coaching bundle which is able to keep excessive availability charges and guarantee operational readiness.
The LUH programme is aimed toward progressively changing ageing fashions, together with the A109, AB206, AB205, AB212 and AB412 to fulfill evolving operational necessities. As well as the programme advantages from a extra environment friendly provide chain primarily based on a ‘one single platform’ method. The introduction of the AW169 LUH, particularly developed for the Italian Military leverages on the AW169M navy helicopter baseline, and likewise offers the benefit of distinctive logistical, operational and technical, certification and coaching commonalities and synergies throughout the rising AW169 fleets of presidency operators in Italy. This strengthens the likelihood to carry out efficient and protected joint operations with different customers of this contemporary sort and represents a quantum leap in homeland safety, emergency response functionality and total through-lifecycle prices/effectiveness for many years to return. The general AW169 LUH programme relies on a sophisticated multirole configuration supplied with devoted flight/mission tools together with, amongst others, skids touchdown gear, the Leonardo MAIR (Multi Aperture InfraRed) menace warning system and a sophisticated C4 command, management and communication system to grant full interoperability with different property within the NATO setting. The Italian Military will initially obtain 15 AW169 LUHs beginning in 2023.
Commercial
The AW169M is the navy variant of the most recent technology AW169 twin-engine helicopter, designed to the most recent FAR/JAR/EASA necessities in addition to these requirements of navy, homeland safety and authorities customers. The platform options excellent energy, agility and manoeuvrability, which offers wonderful dealing with traits in a variety of working circumstances together with scorching and excessive. The distinctive transmission design offers energy to hydraulic, electrical and air-con programs with the rotors stopped (APU mode) optimising response time and availability. The cabin is probably the most spacious in its class and includes a fixed top cross part for speedy reconfiguration and ease of entry. Pilots profit from a latest-generation, open-architecture avionics suite, together with a totally digital glass cockpit and unprecedented exterior visibility, offering superior tactical and situational consciousness. Clients worldwide have positioned orders and choices for over 290 AW169 helicopters right now, together with navy and legislation enforcement/public service operators, to hold out a spread of missions together with utility, surveillance, particular operations, maritime patrol, land reconnaissance, coaching, rescue and fire-fighting. Greater than 130 AW169s are already in service right now and have logged in extra of 100,000 flight hours in operations worldwide.
