Why TH-119?
Made in America, the TH-119's high power margins make it ready for the future; ensuring the pilots of today and tomorrow gain the competence and experience they need.
The TH-119 is a class-leading aircraft developed to enhance safety and provide an exceptional training platform. It is an evolution of Leonardo Helicopters' very popular and successful AW109 light twin helicopter. The TH-119 maintains several of the redundant systems found in an IFR capable twin engine helicopter but with single engine efficiency. It also offers high productivity and performance at a competitive price.

TH-119 Production


All TH-119 worldwide are built and supported by AWPC in Philadelphia, PA. Located at Northeast Philly Airport, Leonardo's facility is the home of  the U.S. Customer Service and Support Center for maintenance and training, in addition to supporting more than 20 Regional Service Centers (USA, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Panama) and nearly 500 aircraft across the Americas.

Ready to Grow

The TH-119’s high power margins make it ready for the future; ensuring the pilots of today and tomorrow gain the competence and experience they need.

Best Value


When compared to twin-engine military training helicopters, the TH-119 is less than half the cost to operate, yet it performs above and beyond the requirements.  With budgets tightening and acquisition cost recieving increasing scrutiny; it matters.

Operational Cost Savings


The TH-119 provides an ideal, cost-effective learning environment by maximizing the amount of time students are flying. Fewer shutdowns to refuel and the opportunity for students to observe the cockpit while in the Observer seat position optimizes every minute of valuable flight time. Single engine operating costs simply make it cheaper.

TH-119 vs AW119KX

  • Genesys Aerospace cockpit avionics utilize dual displays enabling the instructor to fly from either seat, and has the option for either a VFR or single pilot IFR FAA certification to meet the customer’s requirements.
  • Unique cabin configuration allows for full view of the cockpit by an additional student or instructor/observer from the 180-degree adjustable observer seat at the base of the instrument pedestal. Also carries 2 additional students on the cabin bench seat.
  • 5-fuel cell option provides 5+00 hours of flight time. The pressure refueling port means less shutdowns to refuel and enables "hot" refueling.
  • Fully Night Vision Device (NVD) compatible cockpit and cabin with high-visibility cockpit doors and a low-profile instrument panel ensure maximum visibility from the cockpit.
  • Re-enforced skids with replaceable skid shoes support the multiple repetitions of essential touchdown training maneuvers.
  • Cargo hook and hoist capable supporting advanced training events.
  • Genesys avionics open system architecture allows for growth to future enhanced training and/or future FAA compliance.
  • Optional flight/voice data and video capture capability with post-flight download

Additional Equipment:

  • Air conditioning
  • Dual controls
  • Reinforced windshield
  • Removable skid shoes

The Best Solution

The Best Solution

“Leonardo’s TH-119 is not only the best solution for our Naval Aviators, but also for our taxpayers. The TH-119’s single engine profile ensures that our student pilots can accomplish every critical learning task in their syllabus while simultaneously saving our taxpayers nearly a billion dollars over the life of the program. I’m proud to support Leonardo’s TH-119 as the next Advanced Navy Training Helicopter.”

– Tom Ridge, Former US Secretary of Homeland Security

Training in the TH-119 – a instructor pilot's perspective

Doug Edge, a former US Navy Helicopter Instructor Pilot and current Leonardo Helicopters Instructor and Production Test Pilot, knows what is important when teaching aspiring helicopter pilots – flying as frequently as possible and maneuver repetition. A modern training helicopter must support both.

“The TH-119 is uniquely suited to be the next advanced training helicopter. It brings performance and capabilities that greatly reduce the risks associated with teaching students the essential helicopter pilot survival skills such as (full) touchdown autorotations and tail rotor malfunctions. A training helicopter needs to be durable enough to do it day after day, in all conditions and be turned over to the next crew to do it all over again. The TH-119 is always ready.

“Instrument training is fundamental for naval aviators and it’s an essential part of every naval aviator’s job. The joint primary trainer and most fleet helicopters are now equipped with glass cockpits. The current advanced training helicopter still has analog “steam” gauges, which cause students to take a technological step backward at the end of their training pipeline. They have to re-learn instruments they saw during Introductory Flight Screening – just for this helicopter. It adds training time and doesn’t directly correlate to instrumentation the students will see in fleet helicopters after they ‘wing.’ The TH-119 is ideal for both VFR and IFR training. The modern, off-the-shelf glass cockpit installed in the TH-119 provides the perfect segway and makes the transition to fleet aircraft very smooth and efficient.

“One additional feature that I feel sets the TH-119 apart from the other training helicopters, is the ability to have a second student sit in the observer seat behind the instructor and flying student. The observer has a full view of the cockpit, avionics suite and outside environment. It means every minute in the aircraft is valuable for the observing student, and he/she is not just along for the ride to ‘clear right’ while waiting for his/her graded event.

“The TH-119 is a single engine helicopter that is cost-effective and provides a safe, reliable platform by having simple but redundant systems. Students can focus on learning how to fly the helicopter without getting overloaded with complicated aircraft systems.”