Italian business aviation operator Air Corporate is ordering 43 helicopters from Airbus.
The order—which includes 40 single-engine aircraft and a mix of H125s and H130s, along with a trio of ACH160 twin-engine medium rotorcraft from Airbus Corporate Helicopters (ACH)—is the largest commercial helicopter order for Airbus by an Italian operator.
The aircraft will primarily support the company’s private and business passenger services as well as utility operations. The three ACH160s will join two aircraft already on order and will be outfitted with ACH’s Line configuration and Lounge interior package.
The H125s will primarily be used to service aerial-work missions in Italy. The H130s will support tourism flights and perform passenger transport, and the ACH160s will perform corporate and VIP missions.
According to Air Corporate’s board, there is growing demand for the use of the ACH160 in the Italian market for such tasks. The board describes the premium helicopter as “innovative, safe and comfortable.”
“This order is the result of the years we invested in building and maintaining a strong business relationship with Air Corporate,” said Thomas Hein, Airbus Helicopters’ head of Europe, speaking May 25 after the order was placed on the final day of EBACE.
“I am proud of the success of Air Corporate in further expanding its fleet and the private business aviation sector in Italy,” Hein adds.
In the last two years, Air Corporate has taken delivery of 17 helicopters from Airbus, including a pair of twin-engine H135s.
The operator, which was founded in 1999, also flies the Airbus H145, EC155 and AS365 Dauphin.
Air Corporate also uses Leonardo’s AW109, AW169 and AW139 platforms and has a small fixed-wing operation using the Pilatus PC-24 business jet.
