AgustaWestland Malaysia and Malaysia Airports Sign Agreement for New Helicopter Centre

AgustaWestland Malaysia, an AgustaWestland subsidiary, and Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd (MAHB) held a ceremony today at the Farnborough International Airshow for the signature of long-term lease agreement, for a new facility at the Helicopter Centre being developed within the Malaysia International Aerospace Centre, at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah (Subang) Airport near Kuala Lumpur. The construction of the new facility at the Helicopter Centre will commence in 4th quarter 2012, and it is expected to be completed by the end of 2013. 

The agreement was signed by Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad Abdul Majid, Managing Director of MAHB and Vincenzo Alaimo, Managing Director of AgustaWestland Malaysia Sdn Bhd, and witnessed by the Malaysian Minister of Transport, YB Dato’ Seri Kong Cho Ha, as well as AgustaWestland, CEO, Bruno Spagnolini. 

Managing Director of MAHB, Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad Abdul Majid said at the ceremony “This signing marks another strategic partnership with AgustaWestland and demonstrates both parties’ commitment to further develop Malaysia into a regional aerospace hub. The development of this new facility will further position Malaysia as a global aerospace player with Malaysia Airports as one of the main drivers in the aerospace industry.” 

Vincenzo Alaimo, Managing Director, AgustaWestland Malaysia, added “We are delighted to have signed this agreement which will support AgustaWestland Malaysia’s business development plans and also the Government of Malaysia’s plan to develop the aerospace industry. The signing of this agreement highlights our commitment to increase the levels of support we provide locally for our customers not only in Malaysia but throughout the region.” 

Under the agreement AgustaWestland Malaysia will lease land to build a new 7,000 m2 (74,000 ft2) state-of-the-art facility as it continues to expand its regional maintenance and logistics hub. The AgustaWestland Malaysia headquarters at the new Helicopter Centre will include a new corporate office, hangar, warehouse facility and space for AgustaWestland’s Training Academy. The new facility will also enable AgustaWestland Malaysia to expand its Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) and aircraft completion centre capabilities. 

AgustaWestland is the only helicopter manufacturer to have selected Malaysia as its exclusive hub for maintenance and support services covering South East Asia and the Far East. Contributing to the growth of the Malaysian aerospace industry, AgustaWestland Malaysia now employs nearly 50 Malaysian staff and in 2011 registered revenues of more than €16 million (more than RM60 million) for support and logistics services. The Helicopter Centre is one of six development components of the Malaysia International Aerospace Centre (MIAC) managed by Malaysia Airports, an organization that has been tasked by the Government of Malaysia to manage the development of the aerospace industry and to make Malaysia a global player in the aerospace business.