Nature abhors a vacuum : Aristotle’s aphorism could just as easily be AgustaWestland’s new motto.  The AW169 is the missing piece that completes the jigsaw picture of 4 to 5 ton helicopters, fleshing out its range in an already very competitive class of machine.  This new aircraft is expected to be available in 2015, and has been positioned in a market segment that competitors have not really exploited to the full. By Laurent Champeaux    

AgustaWestland is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Italian Finmeccanica group and represents a fifth of its worldwide turnover.  Since it passed into Italian hands, it has become the second biggest manufacturer of helicopters in the world.    

This represents serious competition for the French Eurocopter who occupy the top slot.  Eurocopter is one of the four divisions of the EADS group, and competition between the two is robust, notwithstanding the alliance between the two for the military NH90 upgrading that is still in full swing. A cursory glance at world events is enough to demonstrate this competitive spirit – the respective governments’ operational and budgetary commitments form the backdrop to competing announcements of new aircraft being brought out by the respective manufacturers.    

A frantic race has been under way for several years now between the two manufacturers, both of whom are chasing the most promising markets – the upgrading of military helicopters, and the still expanding parapublic market.    

These two areas of business complement each other as far as research and development is concerned, though marketing and promotion take place in entirely different arenas.    

AgustaWestland is looking to the English contingent who work in the military markets for new business.  Even with the wrappers barely off the AW149, the AW159 Wildcat is already being lined up as a replacement for the Lynx and carrying out its first flight, and there is always another one in the wings.  Meanwhile, Italy is holding back on the civilian market.  Naturally enough, the Italian manufacturer announced at the Farnborough Show last July that it had created a next-generation helicopter that would satisfy an as yet unmet demand.    

Occupying a specific niche    

A comparison between the ranges provided by the two main competitors shows that the target markets are finely delineated, each aircraft being designed to meet the needs of its users and de facto decision makers.   The AW139 and the 109 Grand were both a response to the EC175 and the EC135 : wedged between AgustaWestland’s two aircraft is the future AW169, which itself sits somewhere between the EC145 and the current Dauphin generation with the EC155 B1.    

This twin engine next generation aircraft was designed to give greater flexibility in terms of the missions it can undertake for commercial or governmental operators.  The aircraft is built to the stringent requirements required by Canada in terms of safety, performance and environmental impact as well as the Chapter 29 requirements of the European and American flight authorities (EASA/FAA) as a matter of course, and it is its performance that makes it stand out.    

Chapter 29 requirements deal with the minimum performance levels expected in terms of power, one-engine operation for parapublic and medical usage, search and rescue, or offshore platform usage.    

These particular uses often involve problematic weather conditions or operation in hostile zones that may or may not be inhabited, or situations where the loaded helicopter has to remain stationary out-of-ground-effect without any difficulty.  The helicopter also needs to be able to fly safely with an engine down during all flight phases even at high altitude or in extreme temperatures.  The power reserves provided by the two PW210 turbines that were selected by AgustaWestland give them a sizeable advantage.    

A specially designed frame    

The airframe’s modularity in the model provided adds a new dimension to the existing range.  The light medical emergency helicopter market segment has hitherto been catered for by the A109, a machine that is limited by its restricted access and a not particularly practical floor removal mechanism.  The two 1.6 metre wide sliding doors give access to a flat surface that provides  the space for two stretchers in the medical emergency version to be positioned with or without a rolling mechanism in either direction.  This is a first, and makes the medical personnel’s job a lot easier in flight or in situations where a full range of medical equipment is used for resuscitation or for pediatric care wherever necessary.    

The capabilities of this particular work platform are such that the space is optimised in other versions as well.  The 6m3 space can be used for helicopter lift equipment, specialised search equipment, aerial photographic or video surveillance with  real-time feedback to the ground for police use, or more straightforwardly for carrying passengers.  AgustaWestland certainly seem to be answering the direct competition of the French helicopter manufacturers Eurocopter with their EC145.    

The AW169 frame’s development has been entirely predicated on passive security through the inclusion of large windows to facilitate rapid evacuation or through a mechanism within the frame itself, and of  energy-absorbing seats for all passengers.  The retractable three-wheel landing gear,  widely used with good results throughout the range,  provides greater comfort and aerodynamic performance on a machine that can cruise at a speed of over 140 knots without any undue vibration interference.    

©AGUSTAWESTLAND

 Anticipating Needs  

An ideal aircraft ?    

First deliveries are expected to take place in 2015 for the AW169, which is positioned as a more profitable and better performing aircraft than others in the same category.  It can be customised to suit,  with the addition of weather radar equipment, forward-mounted infra-red vision equipment or more traditionally with equipment associated with search and rescue including light beams and hoist equipment.   This is a significant feature and the manufacturer is not divulging any pricing information just now.  Further information on the programme will be given out during the first few months of 2011, according to the programme marketing manager at Helitech 2010 in October.