Agusta AW109 Grand Helicopter Charter in Australia

The Rotor One fleet is proud to have the Agusta AW109 Grand in its arsenal, an impressive twin-engine helicopter, one of the most powerful of its kind in service today.

From VIP transport and luxury charters to private flights, the Agusta AW109 Grand is a single-engine, IFR capable helicopter carrying up to 7 passengers in luxury factors and the perfect aircraft for VVIP charter and transfers.

Introducing the Agusta AW109 Grand

The AgustaWestland AW109 is a favourite among passengers due to its smooth performance, spacious cabin, and many luxury features. Among charter service providers, it's also a favourite, mainly thanks to its reasonable operating costs, long range, ability to land virtually anywhere, and advanced avionics.

Coming from Italy, this impressive machine is beloved by operators due to its four-blade rotor system and powerful dual Pratt & Whitney Engines that allow it to travel at speeds in excess of 285 kilometres per hour.

What stands out about the AW109 is the many configurations it comes in, as well as the ability to easily configure the cabin for a variety of purposes, whether medical, military, private charter, or otherwise. Thanks to its powerful design, the AW109 is able to handle hundreds of individual tasks. The avionics allow operators to reduce pilot workload while ensuring optimal safety while flying at all times.

History of the Agusta AW109 Grand

Agusta, an Italian company, first create the single-engine A109 in the 1960s, but due to market research, the company quickly switched designs and reworked the original model. They added dual Allison 250-C14 turboshafts, the so called power version. Although there were issues with the design originally, thanks to many pilot test flights, the aircraft received certification on June 1, 1975.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Agusta increased the cabin size, integrated advanced avionics, and added several new engines, such as the Turbomeca Arriel and PW206, although the most popular configurations is that with the Pratt & Whitney engines.

Thanks to its overall reliability, long range flight capabilities, high speed travel, the ability to carry great weight, and overall manoeuvrability, the A109 quickly became popular for a variety of military operations, including attack, naval, and search and rescue. It was also a popular model used for emergency services.

In 2000, Agusta merged with Westland, hence the newer name, AW109 or AgustaWestland 109 Grand. Other modern versions in clude the GrandNew and the Trekker. In the 40 years that this model has been in production, over 1,500 AQ109s have been made, logging millions of flight hours.

Who Makes the Agusta AW109 Grand?

The Agusta AW109 Grand was originally made by the Italian producer Agusta, and now, since 2000, is made by AgustaWestland.

Agusta AW109 Gran Technical Specifications and Amenities

Let's now take a look at what makes the Agusta AW109 Grand so special, including its engines, range, speed, capacity, avionics, and much more.

The Engines

The AW109 Grand features dual Pratt & Whitney Canada PW207C turboshaft engines, which each produce an impressive 735 SHP, or nearly 1500 in total. Thanks to its twin-engine design, it features great hot-and-high performance, can fly in inclement weather, and is able to transport a great number of luggage, passengers, and gear. Due to its great power, it's also a helicopter of choice for charter services, rescue missions, and much more.

Cruising Speed and Range

For charter purposes, the AW109 Grand is certainly an impressive machine worth considering. Its twin engine design allows it to achieve a maximum speed of 311 kilometres per hour, and a cruising speed of 285 kilometres per hour.

This is just one of the reasons why it's such a popular twin engine helicopter for VIP transport and charter service operations.

In terms of its range, it can travel up to 830 kilometres, yet another factor that makes it a fan-favourite. Thanks to its impressive operation range, it's an ideal choice for various aviation purposes.

Capacity

What also makes the AW109 Grand such an ideal option for any charter service and VIP transport is its capacity. It is able to hold up to seven passengers with one pilot, or six passengers with two pilots.

Thanks to the ample cabin space, both in terms of seating capacity and legroom, it's an ideal choice for medium-large groups that require private, luxurious, and comfortable helicopter transport.

Also worth noting is that the AW109 Gran has a luggage hold in the rear that is roughly 1.4 square metres, allowing it to carry various items, whether film gear, golf clubs, or ski equipment.

The Interior

Many people also appreciate flying in the AW109 Grand helicopter due to the space it has on the inside.

It's one of the largest helicopters of its kind, with plush leather seating, large windows to see everything outside, and seats arranged in a club-style for VIP-level comfort.

The noise-cancelling cabin remains silent no matter the weather outside or the current cruise speed. A flight in the AW109 Grand really is the epitome of comfort and luxury.

Avionics

The AgustaWestland 109 Grand features advanced avionics that allow for great smoothness and safety during flight.

Between the dual primary flight displays, moving-map GPS, and a three-axis autopilot that's certified for a single pilot IFR, it certainly is quite the impressive machine.

To assist with flight and other operations, this unit also features optional TAWS and enhanced-vision systems, all of which allow it to fly and land safely during both night and day.

Twin Engine Agusta AW109 Grand Typical Use Cases

The Agusta AW109 Grand has many use cases, from military and emergency services to corporate VIP travel. Let's find out what the AW109 Grand is generally used for.

Corporate Transfers

One of the most common uses of the Agusta AW109 Grand is for corporate transfers and travel. Whether we're talking about politicians, VIPs, board members, or anyone in between, a helicopter flights makes for a fast, easy, and luxurious way to travel, all while skipping the hassle of ground transport.

Thanks to its impressive range and cruise speed, the AW109 Grand is a well suited helicopter for medium and long range regional flights within Australia, including flights between major cities such as Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, and more.

When it comes to getting to corporate events and venues, important meetings, government summits, or quickly travelling from one airport to the next, then the AW109 is a helicopter of choice.

Luxury Tourism

The AW109 helicopter is also used for luxury tourism aviation purposes, or in other words, private tourist charters.

If you're in Australia, you might be tempted to visit the wineries of the Yarra Valley and Hunter Valley, the restaurants on the Sunshine Coast, or venture into the middle of the Blue Mountains.

Whatever, the case may be, the AW109 Grand and its spacious cabin, leather seats, and large windows makes for a great helicopter as far as tourism is concerned, whether we're talking about full-day winery tours or simple scenic flights.

Aerial Filming

In terms of getting a great vantage point on the land below, the AW109 is a fantastic helicopter. Thanks to its advanced avionics and its ability to hover with great stability, along with a cabin large enough for film crews, it's often used for feature full production, although its filming capabilities extend to surveillance as well.

Emergency Medical Services

The other main use of the AW109 Grand is for emergency medical services. It can be configured so that the interior space can hold stretchers and other medical equipment, as well as sufficient medical personnel.

Its twin engine design and advanced systems make it one of the safest and most reliable options for emergency services. If safety is a concern, the AW109 should put those concerns to rest. This versatile machine is ready for virtually any mission in the world, whether private or government.

Booking an AW109 Grand Charter with Rotor One

If you require a private charter and prefer to fly in the Agusta AW109 Grand, Rotor One is the service provider of choice. Rotor One provides its clients with a variety of aviation services, including VIP charters and airport transfers, day tours, scenic flights, and more.

Rotor one ensures maximum safety of all machines through regular pre-flight inspections and rigorous maintenance every 50 flight hours. Moreover, all pilots and crew are fully trained, authorised, and licensed to fly for Rotor Oner for charter and tour purposes. Inquire about a private charter with Rotor One from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.