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Pilots from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flew the Leonardo AW609 tiltrotor on Feb. 22, representing the first time the regulator’s pilots had flown the type, as it moves towards the final stage of certification testing activity.
The long-awaited aircraft, which will become the first civil tiltrotor when certified, is undergoing its initial type certification with the U.S. regulator.
Gian Piero Cutillo, managing director of Leonardo’s helicopter division, told reporters at a briefing during HAI Heli-Expo 2023 that the recent flight, performed in AC4 — the production representative development aircraft — was a pre-TIA (type inspection authorization) activity.
“This completion is a key milestone as the program moves forward to the final stage of this certification process,” he said.
Cutillo said the manufacturer was working “collaboratively” with the FAA, whose role was “critical.”
“We are making really important progress,” said Cutillo. “We are together . . . defining the base of the certification. We still don’t have everything defined, but we are really getting close.”
He said “it’s difficult to say” whether certification could be achieved this year or next, “but we are getting close to that timeframe.”
Cutillo added the level of uncertainty was “due not only to the product . . . but the process of certification that we are validating together with the FAA.”
Matteo Ragazzi, diector of engineering and HDO, said the development of the type is over. “The aircraft is doing what it’s actually supposed to be doing as advertised,” he said. “The question is the process. You know that with the FAA the approach is pretty prudent and cautious.”
Launch customer Bristow was joined by a private VIP operator in Europe last year, with the latter signing a contract for four AW609s. Cutillo confirmed this remains the largest single order for the tiltrotor.