Weststar Aviation Services will launch the AW609 tiltrotor in Malaysia after signing an agreement with Leonardo for one aircraft at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) Exhibition.
The aircraft is to be used for a range of roles and missions in the country, the offshore operator said, and will support further development of its operational capabilities tailored for the requirements and expectations of the market in Southeast Asia.
Under the agreement, Leonardo will supply initial training and maintenance support, with demonstrations planned during the capability development phase.
“This groundbreaking aircraft will revolutionize our operational capabilities, providing us with a versatile platform to fulfil our various missions,” said Tan Sri Syed Azman Syed Ibrahim, managing director of The Weststar Group. “We are proud to be the pioneer in bringing the world’s first multirole tiltrotor to Southeast Asia, and we look forward to demonstrating its exceptional capabilities to our present and potential clients.”
Fellow offshore operator Bristow is the launch customer for the long-awaited AW609, with an order for two aircraft.
Pilots from the Federal Aviation Administration and European Union Aviation Safety Agency flew the tiltrotor in February and March this year, respectively, as the aircraft moves towards the final stage of certification testing activity.
Weststar also announced that it has signed a contract for five more AW139s in an offshore configuration, and recently completed a demonstration flight of a VIP-configured AW139 powered with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) — a first in Malaysia. The SAF fuel was supplied by Petronas Dagangan Berhad (PDB) in collaboration with Neste.
At the LIMA exhibition, Weststar signed a memorandum of understanding with Petronas that it said would serve as a blueprint for collaboration between Weststar and other offshore operators in Malaysia to drive the adoption of SAF in helicopter operations.
“The signing of the MoU with Petronas and the agreement with Leonardo Helicopter Malaysia mark significant milestones in our journey towards sustainable aviation practices and global expansion,” said Tan Sri Syed Azman. “We are grateful for the support and collaboration of our esteemed partners, and we remain dedicated to delivering world-class helicopter services while prioritizing environmental responsibility and operational excellence.”
