Malaysia is looking to wet-lease up to 16 aircraft for its new maritime enforcement agency before moving forward with separate acquisitions for maritime patrol and airborne early warning requirements.
Manufacturers expect a tender to be released in the fourth quarter for the operation of six to eight medium search-and-rescue helicopters and six to eight fixed-wing surveillance aircraft. Local operators expect to be asked to submit bids for three-year wet leases with optional extensions and are now discussing potential tie-ups with interested manufacturers.
For the helicopter requirement, aircraft being pitched include the AgustaWestland A109, Bell/Agusta AB139, Bell 412, Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin and Sikorsky S-76.
Malaysian Helicopter Services is likely to front the S-76 proposal and Bell is poised to select Sabah Air over Hornbill Skyways for its 412 proposal. Both are large Bell operators, but Hornbill's reputation has been tarnished by the fatal crash of a Bell 206 LongRanger last month.
The Dauphin is operated by several Malaysian operators, including Berjaya Air. There are no civil AgustaWestland operators in Malaysia, but the manufacturer's new partner, DRB-Hicom, is pitching the A109 and AB139, with the latter appearing more suitable given the 2005 in-service requirement.
On the fixed-wing side, the Beechcraft 1900 and King Air, Pilatus PC-12 and Socata TBM 700 are among the candidates. Berjaya Air and Transmile Group are potential operators.
BRENDAN SOBIE / SINGAPORE
Source: Flight International
