KUALA LUMPUR: Weststar Aviation Sdn Bhd has delivered the first Leonardo AW139 helicopter to the Fire and Rescue Department under a government leasing concession covering 28 helicopters for various agencies.
The helicopter was officially handed over on Nov 4 at a ceremony officiated by Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming in Subang.
The concession agreement, signed between the government and Weststar Aviation in December 2024, took effect on June 16, 2025.
It requires Weststar to supply 28 helicopters to government agencies over three years.
Nga said the leasing arrangement is expected to save the government about RM3 billion compared with conventional aircraft procurement.
Under the 15-year concession, the concessionaire will also be responsible for aircraft maintenance, reducing the government’s direct maintenance obligations.
The AW139 will support the department’s search and rescue operations, firefighting, medical evacuations, patient transportation and logistical assistance during emergencies and disasters.
Weststar and the department completed the aircraft’s pre-delivery inspection and final acceptance test. It is now ready for operational deployment.
Weststar Aviation chief executive officer General Tan Sri Muhammad Ismail Jamaluddin said the delivery followed close coordination between the government, the department, Leonardo Helicopters and the company’s teams.
The second AW139 helicopter allocated to the department is scheduled to arrive in Malaysia by the end of November, with operational deployment targeted for mid-December, ahead of the peak monsoon season.
The leasing programme will cover several government agencies involved in defence, security, law enforcement, firefighting and emergency response.
Under the arrangement, Weststar will provide the helicopters, maintenance and related support throughout the concession period.
This allows government agencies to access aircraft without substantial upfront capital expenditure.