An AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter is set to be inducted into Uttar Pradesh’s aviation fleet. The civil aviation department has finalised the purchase and approved specialised training for three pilots in Italy. According to officials, Captain Amit Kumar Bhutani and Captain Akshay Jaiswal will train from August 13 to October 10, while Captain Rajesh Kumar Sharma will attend a course from October 9 to November 27.
Training will cover technical operations and emergency landing procedures. The total cost for travel, accommodation, insurance, and other expenses is estimated at ₹50.40 lakh.
Manufactured by Italy’s Leonardo Helicopters, the AW139 can reach speeds of up to 278 km/h. It has a bulletproof body, the option to fit a machine gun, capacity for two pilots, three powerful engines, and mid-air refuelling capability. Its cabin, measuring 8.3 feet in width and 6.1 feet in height, is one of the largest in its class, with a maximum take-off weight of 15,600 kg.
The acquisition is part of a broader plan to expand the state’s air fleet, which also includes consideration of a new advanced charter
aircraft.
