On the occasion of the first AW09 sales network event dedicated to distributors and partners, which was recently held at Kopter’s facility in Mollis, Switzerland, Leonardo has announced the appointment of Aero Facility as an official distributor for the next generation single engine type in Japan.

Aero Facility signed preliminary sales contracts for six units in March 2023, and this latest move will extend Leonardo’s distributorship strategy to Japan to address all commercial application requirements in the country. The announcement follows the recent appointments of distributors in Europe and reinforces the position of the AW09 in Asia.

Headquartered in Tokyo, Aero Facility has 30 years’ experience in the construction of heliports, helidecks and the supply of ancillary equipment, as well as the sale of fixed and rotary wing aircraft and relevant services. The addition of an AW09 distributor in Japan will allow Leonardo to further strengthen its role in the country’s helicopter market. Around 160 helicopters of various types are in service in Japan, used for a wide range of missions including law enforcement, emergency medical service, search and rescue, fire-fighting, disaster relief, VIP/corporate transport, electronic news gathering and maritime utility.

The AW09 continues to generate a positive response from all geographies worldwide as the programme development progresses. The AW09 complements Leonardo’s product range in the long light single-segment, introducing an all-new design aircraft to sustain long-term competitive positioning in this weight category. Also, designed as a true digital helicopter and connected from day one, the AW09 will allow data transmission, gathering and analysis for technical support, scheduled maintenance and flight efficiency/safety capabilities with no equals on the single engine market. The total number of preliminary sales for the AW09 is exceeding 100 units globally and keeps growing steadily.