The Leonardo A109S Trekker is light-weight twin-engine multi-role helicopter with four composite main rotor blades,
articulated main rotor, twin blades teetering tail rotor, a skid landing gear and one-two pilots and six-seven
passengers capacity. The Agusta A109S is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW207C turboshaft engines and is
certified for single pilot IFR operations. This helicopter type is mostly operated for passenger transport
(executive also) and emergency medical service (EMS) by civil operators. The A109S Grand was a further variant of the
Agusta A109 with a larger fuselage. A109S is the official designation: AW109S Grand; AW109S Trekker, etc. are the commercial names.
The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for the A109 helicopters is A109.
In 1967, Agusta S.p.A. started the development of the Agusta A109 as a single-engined
commercial helicopter. The helicopter was intended to have a Turbomeca Astazou or UACL PT6B turbine engine. During the development of
the helicopter it was realised that a twin-engine design was needed and from 1969, the aircraft was re-designed as twin-engined helicopter.
Final design work of parts and equipment began in 1970, and detailed construction work was started where originally two Allison 250-C14
turboshaft engines were chosen for the aircraft. On 4 August 1971, the first of four A109 prototypes made its maiden flight at the Agusta
Cascina Costa di Samarata plant near Varese in Italy. The A109 was powered by two Rolls-Royce Allison 250-C20 turboshaft engines.
ENAC certification for the Agusta A109 was awarded on 28 May 1975. VFR certification was awarded on 1 June 1975.
Series production of the A109 already begun in 1974 and the first production deliveries took place in late 1976.
The first production model was the A109A, powered by two Allison 250-C20 turboshaft engines. ENAC certification
for the Agusta A109A was awarded on 17 September 1976. The A109A differs from the A109 model for the installation of Allison
250-C20B Turbo Engines. From September 1981, the A109A model was superseded by the upgraded A109AII.
The A109AII differs from the A109A model for the possibility of installing of Allison 250-C20B or Allison 250-C20R/1 Turbo Engines.
As a result engine-out performance has been improved at high altitudes, and in hot climates. ENAC certification for the Agusta A109AII
was awarded on 2 June 1981. A military version of the A109A with fixed undercarriage and lenthened nose for the Italian Army
was named A109A EOA "Hirundo". A further development of the A109 is the A109C with improved transmission system, composite main rotor,
stronger landing gear, increased Maximum AUW and 'wide body' cabin, composite main rotor blades and increased Maximum AUW.
ENAC certification for the Agusta A109C was awarded on 20 June 1989. Fuselages of the Agusta A109s are made by PZL-Swidnik in Poland.
In 2014, the AW109S Trekker was unveiled. It was Leonardo's first light twin to offer skid landing gear. The aircraft was unveiled
with a glass cockpit. The AW109S Trekker can be configured for various roles. The cabin, the same size as the Grand/Grandnew can
accomodate up to six passengers or one stretcher with three/four medical attendants or two stretchers and two medical attendants.
The AW109S Trekker archieved the EASA type certification on 27 December 2017.
On 1 January 2016, the name AgustaWestland was dropped while Finmeccanica S.p.a., the parent
company of AgustaWestland, changed to a one company operation consolidating all its subsidiaries beneath one united name. From 28 April 2016,
Finmeccanica S.p.a. changed its company name to Leonardo S.p.a.
In March 2023, the on the Vergiate Production Line built Leonardo A109S Trekker s/n 22741 was test-flown with Leonardo test-registration I-EASQ.
In May 2023, the Leonardo A109S Trekker was registered OE-XDG In Austria with AS&T Aviation Support und Training GmbH, Contwig, Germany.
On 5 September 2023, Leonardo A109S Trekker OE-XDG was seen at the Heli Holland heliport near Emmen in the Netherlands.
