Westland has confirmed its first export order for the new Westland 30 civil helicopter with the conversion of options into an order worth $36 million. This breakthrough into the highly competitive US market was made with the sale of six Westland 30 helicopters including very substantial spares for Airspur Inc, a Los Angeles-based operator. Delivery of the first three helicopters to Airspur is scheduled for the last quarter of 1982, with the second three to follow a year later. All are to be powered by Rolls-Royce Gem engines, but the latter three will have uprated engines to give the Westland 30 improved payload/range. This agreement covers a further 15 options for delivery in the mid-eighties as traffic grows. In service with Airspur, the Westland 30 will carry 16 passengers, in air-conditioned comfort, in its spacious cabin. Airspur will operate a scheduled inter-line passenger and freight service within the Los Angeles area, to and from Los Angeles airport. Initially, it will carry passengers, airfreight and express packages between Burbank, Huntington Beach Newport Beach, and Los Angeles International Airport. British Airways Helicopters has received its first Westland 30 helicopter which is the first production Westland 30; its second helicopter is due for delivery in 1982. The first aircraft will work on the Scilly Islands route early in 1982.