Japanese operators order six AW139s

Bristow has ordered six AW139 helicopters

The aircraft type is popular in the country for search and rescue, law enforcement, air ambulance and firefighting operations

Mitsui Bussan Aerospace – Leonardo’s authorized distributor for the AW139 in Japan – has signed new contracts to supply six aircraft of this type in the country.

Leonardo added that the new orders come on top of several recent, successful deliveries of AW139s to various Japanese operators this year – including two more aircraft for the Japan Coast Guard, two for Japan’s National Police Agency.

The company added that three more AW139s are due to be handed over in 2024, to Ishikawa Prefecture Fire Fighting and Disaster Relief; Saitama Prefecture Fire Fighting and Disaster Relief; and the Hokuriku Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

The company said that Japan’s AW139 fleet was ‘rapidly growing’, with nearly 70 aircraft of this type currently service in the country, representing a total of 110,000 flight hours logged so far.

Leonardo also announced that it received orders for six more AW139s from three different Australian operators earlier this month.