Bell Agusta wins $84.15 million contract

[Heliport]

News agency report The United Arab Emirates (UAE) army has awarded a 84.15-million-US-dollar contract for eight new generation AB 139 helicopters to Bell Agusta Aerospace Company of Italy.

The deal was the biggest of contracts announced Tuesday, Obaid Al Kitbi, head of the Military Committee and spokesman of the ongoing 7th International Defense Exhibition (IDEX2005) in Abu Dhabi, told reporters.

The two companies, Bell Agusta Aerospace and Eurocopter of France with the EC 155 helicopter, were in the fray for the contract. Bell Augusta won the contract.

The AB 139 helicopter is a new generation medium twin turbine helicopter designed with inherent multi-role capability and flexibility of operation. The applications include law enforcement,EMS, offshore, corporate and VIP transport.

According to IDEX 2005, the total value of contracts announced on Tuesday, the third day of the IDEX 2005, was 195.9 million dollars.

About 905 exhibitors from more than 50 countries are participating in this year's show.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/Rotorheads/AgustaAB139.jpg

[Eurobolkow]

Bell Agusta seem to be on to a real winner with the 139 if recent contract awards are anything to go by.

It would appear that Bell Agusta said it best in their advertising of the aircraft 'The only thing the AB139 lacks is competition'!!!

[What Limits]

Is their claim of Cat A/ Class I OEI at MTOW valid?

Sorry if that is too many TLA's.

[Heliport]

The UAE order, with the recent Seacor Holdings order for 20 AB139s, apparently brings the back order list up log to more than 100 helicopters for over 40 customers worldwide.

Six UAE aircraft will be configured for SAR with the other two assigned to VIP transport. The UAE is the now the third country to choose the AB139 for SAR, following Oman and Ireland.

[tottigol]

You forget the tentative choice by the USCG for the Deepwater Program. If am not mistaken that was a selection for as many as fourty aircraft?