Leonardo AW189

Leonardo AW189 History

Italian group AgustaWestland has developed the impressive AW189 model, recognizing the growing market demand for advanced, low-cost, medium-lift helicopters for offshore drilling services. Based on the AW149 military product, the AW189 is intended for use in civilian airspace as a personnel carrier, but can be equipped with optional equipment for various mission roles - in fact, AgustaWestland markets the AW189 series as a multi-role type.

The plane has a crew of two, can carry up to 18 passengers, and travels about 230 miles at speeds in excess of 170 mph. The first flight of the prototype took place on December 21, 2011, and the product has been in development since March 2014.

The AW189 has been ordered in seven countries including India, Malaysia, the UK and the US.

The AW189 is powered by 2 GE CT7-2E1 turboshaft engines, each producing 2,000 hp. The fuselage is 57.8 feet long, the rotors are 48 feet in diameter and 16.6 feet high. Gross weight is listed as 18,300 lbs.

Its specifications make it a bridge product between the AW139 medium lift and AW101 medium lift models in the AgustaWestland helicopter range.

The overall look of the vehicle is sleek, with a flat nose cone in front of the glass-enclosed cockpit. Visibility is generally good in both cockpit positions, with rectangular sliding doors providing access to the cabin. The cockpit and cabin are separated by solid walls for privacy, and passenger comfort is enhanced through the use of upholstered seats, in-flight entertainment and air conditioning.

The engine is mounted above the passenger cabin as usual and drives a five-blade main rotor and a starboard-facing four-blade tail rotor on a short mast. The landing gear is retractable and consists of a traditional three-legged wheeled arrangement.

AW189 cockpit allows use of FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared), Night Vision Goggles (NVG) support, Satellite Communications (SATCOM), HF/V/UHF Radio, AIS Marine Transponder, Quad Axis Autopilot, Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) solutions and flight data recorders. There are four large full-color Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) offering an all-glass approach (installed in pairs in front of either cockpit location).

Weather and search radar are also integrated into the design, as is the Moving Map Display (MMD).

AgustaWestland targets the AW189 at offshore drilling contractors where platform entry requires the use of a powerful and reliable rotary vane system. As such, range is an important intrinsic quality for this type of product, and additional fuel tanks are optional and will be added to the AW189's fuselage to increase range. Additionally, the engine and airframe are designed with the harsh ground operations and harsh environments that accompany such missions in mind.

For emergencies, the AW189 is equipped with an emergency flotation system (emergency water landing) and an auxiliary power unit (APU) for added safety.

In addition to its maritime potential, the AW189's inherent capabilities enable it to serve law enforcement agencies and the Coast Guard. Available equipment includes life rafts, searchlights, cargo hooks and quick descent kits to suit the needs of the mission.

The cabin can also be converted into a medical evacuation platform for garbage and associated personnel.

February 2018 - AW189K is expected to enter service in Q4 2018.

Specification

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