Angolan operator Bestfly is strengthening its offering in the helicopter market with the purchase of four AW169 light intermediate twin engine helicopters from Italian-headquartered global aerospace and defence company, Leonardo.
According www.asianaviation.com, this contract marks the entry of the AW169 into the African market with the first purchase from major local operator.
The introduction of the 4.6/4.8 tonne AW169 is a significant boost to Bestfly’s air operations in Angola. It will be conducting passenger and equipment transport in the energy industry by leveraging latest technology and navigation/mission avionics, latest certification and safety standards, outstanding performance, the largest cabin in its category and a modern maintenance approach.
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“This contract is a great milestone for BestFly in its sustainable growth strategy. We would like to thank Leonardo for its great support in putting this deal together. We are confident the AW169 will be a great addition to our fleet, enhancing the capabilities of our off-shore and on-shore operations. We would like also to thank our customers for their continued support and trust, allowing us to continue to grow stronger in the future” said Bestfly.
Orders and options for nearly 290 AW169 helicopters have been signed by over 90 customers in more than 30 countries around the world to date for a wide range of applications, including air ambulance, law enforcement, executive/corporate and offshore transport, electronic newsgathering, training, military and utility roles.
In the energy industry sector, by supporting oil and gas or wind farm, the AW169 has already proven successful in Europe and the Middle East. More than 130 units have been delivered worldwide and have logged more than 90,000 flight hours.
