Mitsui Bussan Aerospace, AgustaWestland’s distributor for the AW139 medium twin in Japan, plans to deliver the first of two AW139s to All Nippon Helicopter (ANH) in the middle of the year. ANH will conduct electronic newsgathering missions for Nippon Housou Kyoukai, Japan’s national broadcasting corporation. ANH will thus operate the first AW139 in the Japanese civil helicopter market and the first one in the world for electronic newsgathering.

In addition, FB Heliservices has taken delivery of an AW139, the first of two it ordered last year. This aircraft will be used to provide search-and-rescue training for AgustaWestland export customers. It will be operated from RAF Valley in Wales, where
FB Heliservices already performs SAR training for the UK military services. These aircraft are equipped for over-land and over-water SAR operations and carry a rescue hoist, search radar, FLIR camera and an NVG-compatible cockpit. FB Heliservices is a joint venture between Cobham Air Services and Bristow Helicopters.