Editing Leonardo AW609 (section)

===Certification===
[[File:AgustaWestland AW-609 N609AG (cn 60002) static display (21471922133).jpg|thumb|An AW609 on static display in 2009]]

In 2002, [[Type certificate|Type certification]] of the aircraft was projected for 2007.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/bell-aiming-for-ba609-certification-in-2007-155986/ |title=Bell aiming for BA609 certification in 2007 |work=[[Flightglobal]] |publisher=Reed Business Information |date=8 October 2002 |access-date=8 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150308152318/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/bell-aiming-for-ba609-certification-in-2007-155986/ |archive-date=8 March 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2007, certification was projected for 2011.<ref name="BellAugusta_PressRelease_2007">{{cite press release |url=http://www.bellhelicopter.com/en/company/pressReleases/PR_07_0618-04_609_TestPace.cfm |title=BAAC 609 Flight Test Continues Development Pace |publisher=Bell Helicopter |first1=Mike |last1=Cox |first2=Greg |last2=Hubbard |date=18 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715164819/http://www.bellhelicopter.com/en/company/pressReleases/PR_07_0618-04_609_TestPace.cfm |archive-date=15 July 2007}}</ref> In August 2012, the aircraft was forecast to receive [[Federal Aviation Administration]] (FAA) and [[European Aviation Safety Agency]] (EASA) certification in early 2016.<ref name="ain aug 2012">{{cite news |url=http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aviation-international-news/2012-08-02/agustawestland-taps-pwc-rockwell-collins-and-bae-aw609-civil-tiltrotor |title=AgustaWestland Taps P&WC, Rockwell Collins and BAE for AW609 Civil Tiltrotor |work=Aviation International News |first=Matt |last=Thurber |date=2 August 2012 |access-date=9 August 2012 |archive-date=10 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120810015829/http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aviation-international-news/2012-08-02/agustawestland-taps-pwc-rockwell-collins-and-bae-aw609-civil-tiltrotor |url-status=dead }}</ref> The company expected to achieve FAA certification in 2017.<ref name=aw2013-12-02>{{cite news |url=http://aviationweek.com/awin/certification-flight-test-work-nears-aw609 |title=Certification Flight-Test Work Nears For AW609 |work=[[Aviation Week & Space Technology]] |first=Tony |last=Osborne |date=2 December 2013 |access-date=16 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316213238/http://aviationweek.com/awin/certification-flight-test-work-nears-aw609 |archive-date=16 March 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Some delays were caused by lack of funding for the FAA,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-62835354.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924161617/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-62835354.html |archive-date=24 September 2015 |title=FAA inaction threatens civilian tiltrotors |work=Helicopter News  |first=Oliver |last=Sutton |date=16 June 2000 |url-access= }}</ref> others by the V-22 troubles,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-96478546.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402204607/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-96478546.html |archive-date=2 April 2015 |title=New aircraft will be 1st commercial tilt-rotor |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |first=Katie |last=Fairbank |date=13 January 2003 |access-date=9 March 2015 |url-access= }}</ref> while AgustaWestland also spent time increasing performance and reducing cost.<ref name="aw2013-12-02"/>

In 2012, the FAA stated that the AW609 was to be certified in compliance with both helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft rules. New codes were to be developed to cover the transition phase between the two modes.<ref name="ain2012-07-09"/> Of the 217 Pilot Training Tasks, 10 are unique tiltrotor tasks.{{sfn|Venanzi|Wells|2013|p=16}} AW609 Certification Basis is established by the FAA under the provisions of Part 21.17(b) for "Special Class Aircraft" along with a portion of Part 25 ([[fixed-wing aircraft]]) and 29 (helicopter) and new specific tiltrotor parts{{sfn|Venanzi|Wells|2013|p=17}}<ref name="ain2012-07-09">{{cite news |url=http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/2012-07-09/agustawestland-offers-higher-weight-aw609-option |title=AgustaWestland Offers Higher Weight AW609 Option |work=Aviation International News |first=Thierry |last=Dubois |date=9 July 2012 |access-date=13 March 2015}}</ref> in a new category called "[[powered lift]]".<ref name=aw2013-12-02/> In January 2013, the FAA defined US tiltrotor noise rules to comply with [[ICAO]] rules, expecting the AW609 to be available within 10 years. Noise certification will cost $588,000, which is the same as for a large helicopter.<ref name=tiltnoise>{{cite web |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2013/01/08/2013-00111/noise-certification-standards-for-tiltrotors |title=Noise Certification Standards for Tiltrotors |work=[[Federal Register]] |author=Federal Aviation Administration |date=8 January 2013 |access-date=13 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.aero-news.net/subscribe.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=98a33b6f-df48-4348-88bd-c66db2d8a24a |title=FAA Publishes Modified Noise Rules For Tiltrotors |work=Aero-News Network |date=11 January 2013 |access-date=13 January 2013}}</ref>

In February 2014, the AW609 conducted its first customer demonstration flights, in both airplane and helicopter modes,<ref name="ain20140226">{{cite news |url=http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/hai-convention-news/2014-02-26/agustawestland-offers-demo-flights-aw609-tiltrotor-heli-expo-2014 |title=AgustaWestland Offers Demo Flights on AW609 Tiltrotor at Heli-Expo 2014 |work=Aviation International News |first=James |last=Wynbrandt |date=26 February 2014 |access-date=3 March 2014}}</ref><ref name="augwest20140227">{{cite press release |url=http://www.agustawestland.com/news/agustawestland-completes-first-customer-demonstration-aw609 |title=AgustaWestland Completes First Customer Demonstration of AW609 |publisher=AugustaWestland |date=27 February 2014 |access-date=2 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302233258/http://www.agustawestland.com/news/agustawestland-completes-first-customer-demonstration-aw609 |archive-date=2 March 2014  }}</ref> and began certification flights.<ref name="osb1">{{cite news |url=http://aviationweek.com/commercial-aviation/aw609-begins-certification-flying |title=AW609 Begins Certification Flying |work=[[Aviation Week & Space Technology]] |first=Tony |last=Osborne |date=25 February 2014 |access-date=3 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817090608/http://aviationweek.com/commercial-aviation/aw609-begins-certification-flying |archive-date=17 August 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In early summer 2014, the AW609 performed FAA-monitored [[autorotation]] tests. More than 79<ref name="ain2015-03-03"/> power-off conversions from airplane mode to helicopter mode were made across 10 flight hours. During these tests, it was found that the minimum operating requirements for successful autorotation include the altitude being {{convert|3000|ft|m|abbr=on}}, and that the system keeps rotor [[revolutions per minute|rpm]] above the minimum 70% for stable recovery.<ref name="ainonline201407">{{cite news |url=http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aviation-international-news/2014-06-02/test-pilots-take-autorotating-tiltrotor |title=Test Pilot's Take on Autorotating the Tiltrotor |work=Aviation International News |first=Mark |last=Huber |date=2 June 2014 |access-date=4 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140704003924/http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aviation-international-news/2014-06-02/test-pilots-take-autorotating-tiltrotor |archive-date=4 July 2014}}</ref> The test pilots received the [[Iven C. Kincheloe Award]] for their role in the tests.<ref name="ain2015-03-03"/><ref name="agpr20141021">{{cite press release |url=http://www.leonardocompany.com/en/-/aw609-test-pilots-award |title=AW609 Test Pilots Receive Iven C. Kincheloe Award |publisher=AgustaWestland |date=21 October 2014 |access-date=4 March 2017}}</ref>

In February 2023, pilots from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flew the AW609 tiltrotor, representing the first time the regulator's pilots had flown the type. The [[Leonardo S.p.A.|Leonardo]] company described the flight as a pre-TIA (type inspection authorization) activity, as it moves towards the final stage of the certification process.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FAA pilots fly Leonardo AW609 for first time as certification enters 'final stage' |url=https://verticalmag.com/news/faa-pilots-fly-leonardo-aw609-for-first-time-as-certification-enters-final-stage/ |access-date=2023-03-13 |website=Vertical Mag |language=en-US}}</ref> EASA pilots subsequently commenced familarisation flights in March 2023<ref>{{Cite web |title=EASA pilots fly AW609 for first time |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopters/easa-pilots-fly-aw609-for-first-time/152606.article |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=Flight Global |language=en-US}}</ref> with certification and entry into service projected to be sometime in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Twin tiltrotor milestones to slip into 2024, says Leonardo Helicopters |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopters/twin-tiltrotor-milestones-to-slip-into-2024-says-leonardo-helicopters/152347.article |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=Flight Global |language=en-US}}</ref>