Agusta Expands North American Sales Effort

Encouraged by its North American sales performance in 1999, Agusta has broadened the commercial staff of Agusta Aerospace Corp., its U.S. subsidiary.

According to Agusta president Amedeo Caporaletti, the fresh emphasis will allow the company to focus on new market segments, including offshore, law enforcement and utility applications.

"Customer support remains the top priority, however, and we continue to improve," he said.

Agusta delivered 64 helicopters in 1999, generating revenue of more than $800 million. Included in the total were 45 sales to civil customers and 19 sales on the military side.

Highlights included the sale of four Agusta A109s to emergency medical services operators in North America, plus the first orders for the newly-certified A119 Koala.

The first two Koalas, in passenger and utility configuration, will be delivered to a Venezuelan and an Australian customer in the next few months.

Caporaletti says he expects the merger between Agusta and GKN Westland to close early this year, though "work remains on drafting the final agreements."

By Paul Richfield