China’s CITIC Offshore Helicopter Company (COHC) took delivery of three more AW139 offshore helicopters between the end of 2024 and early 2025, bringing to 13 the total number of aircraft of this type in service with the operator for energy missions. In addition, China General Aviation Company (CGAC), a leading player in the Chinese general aviation industry and one of the three major offshore oil and gas operators in the country, has recently signed for three AW139s plus one option, with deliveries to its base in Tianjin and Hainan Province expected in 2026.

Founded in 1983 as the first professional helicopter operator in China, COHC became the first Chinese main board-listed general aviation company on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 2000 and is still the only publicly traded general aviation company in China. COHC operates more than 80 helicopters for a wide range of missions covering offshore transport, HEMS and utility roles. COHC is also the exclusive helicopter operator for China’s polar exploratory missions.

These latest achievements confirm the leading role of Leonardo in the global energy industry market for helicopter operations, with a 60 per cent share over the last five years in terms of deliveries (value) worldwide, also extensively based on the AW139’s success for the task.

The AW139 plays a significant role in China’s civil helicopter sector, with over 50 units delivered for offshore transport, VIP transport, medical emergencies and public services. In combination with the market’s demand for further development of the low-altitude industry, this has prompted Leonardo to strengthen its response with further reinforcement of localised support to guarantee that operators receive the technical service and training they deserve to maximise the capabilities of their helicopters, mission effectiveness and safety.

To that end, Leonardo and Shanghai Guojin Financial Leasing, a Chinese company specialising in financial and operational leasing, have signed a procurement agreement to install an AW139 Level D full flight simulator in China in 2026. This will be the first Leonardo helicopter simulator in China, developed in accordance with the OEM’s aircraft flying data for maximised fidelity and high quality training. This aligns with China’s stringent national aviation regulations and will enhance and accelerate the training ecosystem of the AW139 locally for existing and future demand, bringing new opportunities as the fleet keeps growing. Leonardo is also exploring collaborative opportunities with COHC in the set-up of local training capabilities.

Being the world’s most important helicopter programme since its certification in 2004 and the bestselling type in its category, the AW139 has logged orders for nearly 1,500 units from more than 300 operators in over 90 countries to date for all missions. The AW139 delivers outstanding capabilities, technology and safety to meet stringent requirements from operators for tasks in harsh conditions to maximise effectiveness. The helicopter features advanced avionics with navigation and collision avoidance systems to enhance situational awareness and reduce pilot workload, and offers unmatched speed, power margins and overall performance. It has the widest cabin in its category featuring high modularity for rapid reconfiguration, a unique main gearbox with more than 60 minutes of run-dry capability for enhanced safety, and up to 1,000 certified kits.

More than 200 Leonardo civil helicopters of various types have been sold to Chinese operators to date for a range of both commercial and public services. Up to now, more than 120 helicopters of various types have been delivered for a range of commercial and public services to serve Chinese customers, including the AW139, AW119, AW109 and AW169 helicopters, and more than 20 aircraft, including eight AW189s and eight AW139s, have been delivered to Chinese customers over the last three years.