News
Leonardo, ADA and SAZMA celebrate another AW139 delivery
October 13, 2022 By Helicopters Staff
Abu Dhabi Aviation is a national shareholding company and the largest commercial helicopter operator in MENA region, established in 1976, holding a fleet of nearly 60 aircraft. (Photo: Leonardo)
Leonardo, Abu Dhabi Aviation and Sazma Aviation Sdn Bhd celebrated the delivery of an AW139 intermediate twin engine helicopter from the Vergiate final assembly line facility on September 27, 2022.
The aircraft will be leased by Sazma from Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA) to perform offshore transport operations supporting the energy industry sector in Malaysia from Sazma’s base in Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Sabah. The helicopter will also carry out VIP transport missions.
This is the third AW139 leased by Sazma and brings to 27 the number of Leonardo helicopters procured by ADA to date, most of them being AW139s.
The newest AW139 aircraft leased by Sazma features the Honeywell Primus Epic Phase 8 core avionics software release, adding further capabilities including advanced synthetic vision, improved 2D maps and wireless data loading delivering even greater all-weather capabilities and mission effectiveness, and EGPWS (Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System). This latest standard increases crew situational awareness and reduces workload for operations at night or in marginal weather.
Leonardo explains its Synthetic Vision System assists with navigation and landing approaches when operating within challenging terrain, oil rigs, and other demanding scenarios, accomplished via 3D presentation of the external scenario, including surrounding terrain, obstacles, runways and helipads within the background of the Primary Flight Display. A 2D Interactive Navigation (INAV) feature showing the helicopter position and flight plan on a map into the Multi-Functional Display (MFD) delivers what Leonardo describes as unparalleled navigation system alignment and precision with the actual flight path taking into account environmental factors.
Phase 8 has also wireless connectivity embedded, providing high speed data access for flight plans transfer and maintenance data gathering from the aircraft. Additionally, Custom Approach functionality provides the capability to design, set and fly an automated approach to any user-defined location, including oil rig helidecks.
