Article Posted on : - Dec 23, 2011

An AgustaWestland photo.

CASCINA COSTA, ITALY (BNS): AgustaWestland has test flown the first prototype of its new AW189 multi-role helicopter on Wednesday.

The new rotorcraft, which was launched at the Paris Air Show earlier this year, made its maiden flight from the company's Cascina Costa plant in Italy.

The twin-engine 8-tonne class AW189 has been developed as part of AgustaWestland's family of new generation helicopters that includes the AW169 and AW139 models.

It is being developed to perform a wide range of roles including offshore transport, search and rescue, passenger transport and a variety of parapublic missions.

The first prototype of the helicopter will be used for avionic system testing and certification of offshore equipment options, while the second prototype, set to fly in 2012, will be dedicated to a load survey programme, the company said.

Delivery of the rotorcraft is planned for 2014, it said.