AgustaWestland and Kaigai Aviotech Corporation are pleased to announce that Japan’s leading newspaper ‘The Asahi Shimbun’ has signed a contract for a Grand light twin turbine engine helicopter. The signing ceremony was held at the Farnborough International Air Show today. This helicopter will be used to perform news gathering and aerial photography missions.

This order represents the first Grand helicopter to be sold in Japan and the helicopter is expected to enter service in mid-2010. The Grand has been chosen by the customer for its class leading performance, cabin space – the largest in the light twin class, high technology, safety, reliability and serviceability.

AgustaWestland’s success in the Japanese commercial helicopter market continues to grow with strong sales in recent years across its complete product range. Japanese customers are also served with excellent product support solutions to maximise aircraft availability. In April 2008 AgustaWestland opened its new regional business headquarters in Tokyo and sees significant future business opportunities in Japan.

The Grand is a new top-of-the-range light twin helicopter developed to meet a wide range of market requirements and provides levels of cabin space and payload that until now could only be met by larger, more expensive helicopters. Orders for over 230 helicopters have been placed by more than 130 customers in almost 30 countries to date, to perform many tasks including VIP/corporate transport, EMS and SAR.

Since its inception as a newspaper in 1879, The Asahi Shimbun Company’s fundamental mission has been to serve the public, record history factually, pursue the truth and provide accurate information to people across the country and has become a leading organ of public opinion.