New name, new frontiers: Soaring far beyond Italy

Leonardo Helicopters, maker of the world-renowned AgustaWestland fleet, is spreading its wings further by collaborating with Nanyang Technological University.

Taking inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci – a symbol of innovation, research, and creativity – Italian company Finmeccanica ushered in a new era by changing its name to Leonardo in 2016. What used to be a holding company of independent businesses is now one company integrated and organised in divisions with a focus on high-tech products and services.

The Helicopter Division, which is able to manage the entire helicopter development and production cycle, has plants concentrated in Italy, the United Kingdom, Poland, and the United States. Beyond these domestic markets, Leonardo is keen to fly to new heights.

The Singapore 'seed'
In May 2016 Leonardo signed an agreement with NTU for a research collaboration in integrated and innovative composites helicopter structure and helicopter aerodynamics. The partnership, Leonardo’s first in Asia as previous collaborations were with academic institutions in Europe, aims to facilitate sharing of talents and know-how to develop engineering and industrial capabilities.

Luca Medici, head of research & technology at Leonardo Helicopters, told Singapore Business Review, “I see it as a cross-functional fertilisation between us and Asia.” When asked whether the deal is a sign of Asian expansion with the possibility of putting up a plant in Singapore, Medici likened the collaboration to a seed. He said, “When you go to Singapore and want Leonardo to be recognisable there as a helicopter manufacturer, you need to be there.”

Medici commented further that it’s a win-win situation. “We go to the university and try to invest our future there, taking advantage of the work they can provide and at the same time transferring to them our capability and expertise.” Daniele Romiti, managing director at Leonardo Helicopters, echoes the sentiment. He said, “Universities can bring us new techniques, new modelling approach, and we bring the experience.” Every year they invest 11% of revenues in research.

When the collaboration agreement was signed in Rome, Mauro Moretti, Leonardo CEO and general manager, remarked, “This agreement is an exciting opportunity for Leonardo to expand the scope of its activities in Singapore, a strategic country where we are fully committed to strengthen a long-term partnership, not just for Helicopters but also in other sectors.”

'Think Customer' ethos
Leonardo is proud to say it is not only a rotary-winged manufacturer, with its through-life approach making the big difference. The Division provides all associated services needed to operate the helicopters – support, training, maintainance, and integration in specific environments and areas.

In Sesto Calende where they have the main training academy for pilots and engineers where they use state-of-the-art simulators as well as real aircraft, the company also has a 24/7 fleet operations centre. In addition, there are regional support centres, training academies, and satellites around the world to assist customers in different continents.

Paolo Petrosso, head of Italy training operations, said, “We recognise that we are now a global company and our products are flying all over the world, so going closer to the customer is essential to maintain that competitive advantage.” For instance, Leonardo deploys spare parts regionally so that customers have a shorter route from the moment they need a part to the moment they get it. The company also has the unique capability to build an entire training solution anywhere in the world – like in a military base – and operate it on behalf of the customer.

Petrosso explained how training is part of Leonardo’s through-life support, with a helicopter purchase being ‘almost for life’ as the aircraft lasts 20, 30-plus years. He said, “Training is a fundamental element of the relationship our company has with the customers because it’s not only about technical knowledge but it’s also about the safety of the flying crew. That’s the key element of our strategy – customer service and training – is to ensure that our products are operated at the highest safety standard.” For Petrosso, being seen as a product that is safe and equally effective is the best marketing tool Leonardo can have.

Full in-house cycle
One major advantage Leonardo Helicopters has over competitors is its full-range capabilities, from design and production of the helicopters, using Leonardo-developed avionics and in-house customisation, to maintainance and after-sales support. In fact, 40% of revenues in the Helicopter Division comes from support services.

Leonardo’s high customisation approach – from paintwork to interiors and materials – is a differentiator, as other manufacturers send units to an outside customisation centre for completion of the production process. Visiting Leonardo’s customisation lab is like walking into a fashion boutique where a wide selection of leather samples, wood types, carpets, and colours is showcased.

Silvano Scorbati, head of interior solution centre at Leonardo Helicopters, said, “We prefer to take the responsibility because at the end of the day it is our product. The success of our product is including everything, not only the blade, the engine, or the fuselage.”

As for its avionics, Leonardo uses the same building blocks across its family of helicopters, providing ease in customisation and integration. Senior avionics system engineer Giorgio Contogiorgos explained, “This commonality allows us to manage in a very efficient way the customisation of a specific helicopter and also allows us to extend from one platform to another platform in a quick and easy way, satisfying customer needs on time at competitive prices within cost.”

Other market players do not have the family concept and avionics integration capability. According to Contogiorgos, the in-house design and development of Leonardo’s complex avionics system started in the ‘80s. He said, “We develop the flight control systems of our helicopters because we believe that nobody better than us can develop them.”

Leonardo is also capable of mission system development, design, and integration. With the AW101, for instance, the company works with military customers to produce integrated mission systems.

The future has come
In a world of hybrids, it is exciting to see how combined features and benefits impact how things are now done. In Leonardo the AW609 is a perfect example of the ‘best of both worlds’ concept. The AW609 is a combined helicopter (rotorcraft) and airplane (fixed-wing) under the powered lift category, known in the market as a tiltrotor.

Clive Scott, AW609 program director, told SBR, “Helicopters do something very well; airplanes do another thing very well. What this does is it mixes the capabilities of both. Rather than a fast helicopter, it should more be seen as an airplane that can take off and land vertically.”

This tiltrotor is a pressurised aircraft travelling at 25,000 feet, approximately twice the height for helicopters, at twice the speed or up to 275 knots and with double the range. Scott said, “That’s the biggest selling factor = speed and range. The altitude comes with the nature of it being more of an airplane.” An airplane that does not need a runway.

There are military tiltrotors in the market; it’s only Leonardo that has this class for a commercial aircraft. Markets include offshore oil & gas, search & rescue, emergency medical service, disaster relief, VIP, and corporate. A critical illustration of the combined benefits is urgent patient transportation or the tiltrotor’s use in organ transplants. Imagine flying above the weather from helicopter roofs with no stops for refuelling.

The AgustaWestland maker will be the first to get civil certification for the tiltrotor in 2018, and deliveries will commence in 2019. So far there are around 50 orders.

Leonardo Helicopters has more than 1,400 customers served in 105 countries by over 12,000 people, with a fleet of about 5,000 helicopters around the world.