AgustaWestland is planning an expansion of its Pacific region sales drive, embarking on an extensive demonstration tour of New Zealand and Papua New Guinea (PNG) in the coming months.
Sydney-based Heliflite, Agusta distributor for the south-west Pacific, is to take an A119 Koala and an A109 Power on a tour of New Zealand from next month and the Koala to PNG in July. The tour comes as Heliflite seeks to expand sales of the types beyond Australia, where it has sold four A119s, six A109 Powers and two A109S Grands. John Skeen, Heliflite sales and marketing manager, says the Koala will be targeted at the utility market in New Zealand and PNG, while the A109 Power will be aimed at the corporate sector. "We'd like to get the Power, the Grand and the Koala into New Zealand this year," says Skeen.
PNG has poor infrastructure, but mineral wealth, leading to the presence of mining companies requiring helicopter transport. At present the market is divided between Bell Helicopter and Eurocopter, but Skeen says "there are a lot of helicopters needing replacement".
Source: Flight International
