The first Leonardo AW149 on the final assembly line in Świdnik. (Jakub Link-Lenczowski)
Leonardo Helicopters subsidiary Polskie Zakłady Lotnicze (PZL)-Świdnik launched its final assembly line (FAL) and flight line (FL) for AW149 multirole helicopter production on 4 June.
During the ceremony Jacek Libucha, CEO of PZL-Świdnik, together with Paweł Bejda, a secretary of state in the Polish Ministry of National Defence (MND), and Gian Piero Cutillo, managing director of Leonardo Helicopters, officially initiated production of the AW149 helicopters in Poland.
PZL-Świdnik is working on the two helicopters which are expected to be ready for factory trials “very soon”, Libucha said.
The new facility allows for production, completion, and pre-flight tests. During final assembly there helicopters will be fitted with instrument panels, hydraulics, electric wires, and fuelling equipment. Next, landing gear, engines, and main rotor gearboxes will be fitted. Then tails and tail rotors will be attached to the hull and main rotors fitted.
The flight line will be the final production stage, where cryptographic systems will be installed and final pre-flight tests performed. The whole process will be finished by performing a test flight. As Libucha told Janes, PZL-Świdnik has trained level one factory test pilots to perform all in-flight tests at the site.
Janes learnt that PZL-Świdnik is ready to deliver 10 helicopters per year, allowing them to complete the compliment of two squadrons for the Polish army, and to provide additional helicopters for other customers if ordered.
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