Leonardo is strengthening its support services for helicopter operators in Brazil and throughout Latin America with the opening of its all new service and logistics centre headquartered in Itapevi, 30 kilometres from São Paolo, the result of an R$60 million investment. The 80,000 sqm site is home to 6,000 sqm of buildings and infrastructures, and can host up to 20 aircraft simultaneously. Aircraft maintenance, training facilities and a range of industry capabilities such as painting and completions will gradually be introduced, and the company expects the new centre to allow the expansion of service capacity by up to 50 per cent compared to the previous dedicated site at Osasco.

Five hundred Leonardo helicopters of various models are in service throughout Latin America, 190 of which are in Brazil and 120 in the state of São Paolo. The new site is expected to host at least 370 aircraft every year, for VIP/corporate and VVIP transport, offshore transport, rescue duties, law enforcement, fire fighting and military roles. The most popular types include the AW119 single engine, the AW109 light twin legacy, the AW139 intermediate twin and the AW169 light intermediate. The AW189 has introduced new capabilities into the region supporting the energy industry.