Spanish operator INAER has signed a contract for ten AW169 helicopters, and asked AgustaWestland to speed up its development and certification. "Our customers urgently need the AW169," says INAER ceo Jorge Díaz-Crespo Cardona.

The new helicopter programme was unveiled in July 2010, and is reported to be progressing as planned with first flight scheduled in 2012 and certification in 2014. Deliveries are expected to follow immediately after certification.

Separately, INAER has signed a memorandum of understanding with PZL-Swidnik to expand both companies' businesses in the fire fighting market over the next ten years, in particular in Spain, Portugal, Italy and France. The MoU is focused on the specialised W-3A Sokól medium twin helicopter and support services and it is intended to meet INAER's fleet modernisation and expansion plan requirements for fire fighting operations.

Luis Miñano San Valero, executive chairman of INAER, comments: "The W-3A Sokól is one of the most capable and cost-effective in the twin medium class for fire fighting. It is one of the most suitable aircraft to meet our requirements."