The first Japanese-owned corporate/VIP configured AgustaWestland GrandNew has entered service with an undisclosed customer.
The light twin-engined helicopter is already established in Japan for electronic news gathering and emergency medical services missions and is set to enter in a law enforcement role, says the Anglo-Italian airframer.
This VIP-configured aircraft features a Max-Viz EVS-1500 Enhanced Vision System, five seat Elite cabin interior and five-cell fuel system, giving a maximum range of more than 850km (460nm).
Three GrandNews have been ordered by Japanese customers since the beginning of the year, including the sale earlier this month of a single machine to its local distributor Kaigai Corporation.
The Toyko-headquartered company also acquired, as part of the deal, a single-engined AW119Ke and a twin-engined AW109 Power for the Japanese commercial market.
Source: Flight International
