LEONARDO AND CAE TO BOOST AW139 ADVANCED TRAINING SERVIDCES DELIVERED IN USA WITH SECOND FFS SIMULATOR IN PHILADELPHIA

Atlanta, 11 March 2026 – Leonardo and CAE will introduce a second AW139 Full Flight Simulator (FFS) at Leonardo’s U.S. Training Academy in Philadelphia, boosting the level of service around the world-leading intermediate twin engine helicopter training the pilots flying the type in North, Central and South America.

The simulator will be operated by Rotorsim, the joint venture equally owned by Leonardo and CAE, starting in 2027. The new Level D simulator will mirror the latest aircraft’s avionics suite and operational envelope at the highest possible standard, expanding domestic training capacity and reinforcing Philadelphia’s role as a center of excellence for AW139 pilot qualification and recurrent training for its reference regions.

In Philadelphia, Rotorsim also operates one AW169 FFS and one AW609 tiltrotor FFS available on a single platform deployed using a “Roll/on - Roll/off” (Ro-Ro) system. Rotorsim was initially established over 20 years ago in Italy, to provide synthetic training solutions for AW109 Power and AW139 helicopter operators at Leonardo Training Academy in Sesto Calende. Since then, Rotorsim has expanded to include other AW109 series types, AW189, AW169 and NH90.

With over 1500 units ordered by more than 300 customers in around 90 nations, the AW139 confirms itself as the undisputed world leader in its size/weight category, delivering outstanding capabilities, technology, and safety to meet stringent requirements from operators for tasks in harsh conditions to maximize effectiveness. This type features state-of-the-art avionics with advanced navigation and collision avoidance systems to enhance situational awareness and reduce pilots’ workload, unmatched speed, power margins, and overall performance; the widest cabin in its category featuring high modularity for rapid reconfiguration; a unique 60+ min run-dry capable main gear box for enhanced reliability and safety; and up to 1000 certified kits.

Leonardo is an international industrial group, among the main global companies in Aerospace, Defence, and Security (AD&S). With 60,000 employees worldwide, the company approaches global security through the Helicopters, Electronics, Aeronautics, Cyber & Security and Space sectors, and is a partner on the most important international programmes such as Eurofighter, JSF, NH-90, FREMM, GCAP, and Eurodrone. Leonardo has significant production capabilities in Italy, the UK, Poland, and the USA. Leonardo utilises its subsidiaries, joint ventures, and shareholdings, which include Leonardo DRS (71.4%), MBDA (25%), ATR (50% ), Hensoldt (22.8%), Telespazio (67%), Thales Alenia Space (33%), and Avio (19.3%). Listed on the Milan Stock Exchange (LDO), in 2024 Leonardo recorded new orders for €20.9 billion, with an order book of €44.2 billion and consolidated revenues of €17.8 billion. Included in the MIB ESG index, the company has also been part of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) since 2010.

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