Helicopter - AW189 with technical issues - Source: AIN

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Era Group Working AW189 Problems for GOM

Era Group is working with AgustaWestland on "technical acceptance" issues for its first four AW189s, which are designated for work under a contract with a Gulf of Mexico offshore support customer. Era Group President, CEO and CFO Chris Bradshaw said the issues are "not at all atypical for new helicopter models," but Era wants "to ensure that the aircraft is capable of performing the necessary mission profile" for the customer. Bradshaw discussed the issues in an Aug. 5 conference call on Era's second-quarter financial performance. In 2013, Era ordered 10 AW189s. He said Era has cancelled one of those orders and has not reached contract decision dates on the other five. Of the four in the review, Bradshaw said, "we're still expecting to take delivery of them and for them to go to work on the contract for the customer in 2015."