24 May 2023 – During the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA), Leonardo and Weststar Aviation Services (Weststar) from Malaysia celebrated agreements for technological and commercial development.
Weststar will introduce an AW609 tiltrotor aircraft in Malaysia, operating it under a leasing contract. The aircraft will be used for various missions in the country, with its operational capabilities being further developed to meet the specific needs and expectations of the regional market. Leonardo will provide initial training and maintenance support, as well as demonstration activities during the capability development phase. This achievement for the AW609 program, the world’s first multi-role tiltrotor designed to obtain civil certification, marks the aircraft’s entry into Southeast Asia.
“Considering how Weststar is constantly seeking innovation and operational excellence, we are excited to collaborate with Leonardo to introduce the AW609 tiltrotor in Malaysia. This revolutionary aircraft will transform our operational capabilities, providing us with a versatile platform for our various missions. We are proud to be the first to bring the world’s first multi-role tiltrotor to Southeast Asia and look forward to demonstrating its exceptional capabilities to our current and potential customers,” said Tan Sri Syed Azman Syed Ibrahim, CEO of The Weststar Group.
In addition to announcing this significant collaboration with Leonardo to develop the operational capabilities of the revolutionary AW609 tiltrotor, Weststar signed a contract for five additional AW139 helicopters in offshore configuration. This will strengthen the support Weststar provides to the regional energy industry, already ensured by employing the best-selling helicopter in its category worldwide.
Finally, on May 22, an important sustainability milestone was achieved by a Weststar AW139 helicopter in VIP configuration, which conducted Malaysia’s first demonstration flight with SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel), departing from Subang Airport (home of Leonardo Malaysia) to LIMA. The SAF was provided by PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad (PDB) in collaboration with Neste, the world’s largest SAF producer. This flight represents a first in Malaysia’s helicopter industry, further demonstrating Leonardo’s ability to reduce the aviation sector’s impact on global carbon emissions across all geographical areas.
“At Weststar, we are committed to promoting sustainable aviation practices and reducing emissions. We are a step ahead in reducing environmental impact in the rotorcraft sector in Malaysia, thanks to the successful demonstration flight of our AW139 powered by Petronas SAF. This result demonstrates our commitment to pursuing innovative solutions that drive positive change in the industry. We remain dedicated to shaping a greener future for the aerospace sector and reducing emissions beyond borders,” added Tan Sri Syed Azman.
“We are committed to supporting the aviation industry’s decarbonization efforts. This collaboration is an important step in the right direction toward promoting a sustainable future in the sector,” said PDB’s Chief Operating Officer Khalil Jaffri Muhammad Muri.
Since its operations began in 2003, Weststar Aviation Services has grown to become one of the leading global operators in the offshore helicopter sector. Today, the company operates 35 helicopters of the AW139, AW169, and AW189 models from its bases in Malaysia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Namibia, Mauritania, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo, making it one of the largest commercial operators of Leonardo helicopters.
Leonardo continues to play a leading role in the Malaysian helicopter market, expanding its presence and increasing its capabilities through a continuous investment plan. With a regional hub for customer support and training near Kuala Lumpur, Leonardo has been present in the region for many years, with hundreds of helicopters performing missions such as offshore and passenger transport, utility, national security, search and rescue, emergency medical services, maritime patrolling, naval military roles, and armed reconnaissance.