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Simone Benedettini: technology and aeronautics, know-how and experience to overcome complexity and achieve excellence

In the latest addition to the We are Leonardo series, Simone Benedettini, aerospace engineer, project engineer and military system integrator for the AW169, tells us how his wealth of skills, including those accumulated during his training and 14 years at Leonardo, have allowed him to successfully deal with the complexity of the programmes in which he has participated.

Aerospace Engineer

Aerospace Engineer

In the Group since 2008

In the Group since 2008

Helicopters

Helicopters

Cascina Costa di Samarate (Varese)

Cascina Costa di Samarate (Varese)

Aircraft design demands a perfect balance of skill and dedication. Simone knows this well after more than 14 years of working with Leonardo. An Aerospace engineer by training, his career has allowed him to participate in numerous projects.

Simone is particularly proud of the AW139. In this product, in years, he oversaw activities aimed at optimised rotor blades  and implementation of an innovative similar process for composites, later extended to all the helicopters in the family (AW169, AW189). This operation was intended to ensure a further growth of quality of raw materials and components at every production stage.

Simone’s experience has qualified him for his current position as project engineer and system integrator at Leonardo’s Cascina Costa site in Samarate (Varese). Here, he manages and coordinates work on the military version of the AW169, coordinating development and work on the helicopter destined for the Italian army. This is a true challenge considering that the AW169 LUH (Light Utility Helicopter) required the definition and management of a new basic aircraft configuration (different from the one already certified for civil use) and the design of military equipment. For Simone, this meant “managing a demanding customer in a programme that was particularly challenging due to the certification deadlines, the project’s complexity and the high number of requirements.”

But, as Simone explains, “Leonardo means technology, innovation and quality. These three elements, combined with the skill and dedication of the people who work for the company, ensure that our products are coveted and competitive worldwide.” According to Simone, the complexity inherent in Leonardo’s products “is a result of the ideas of the people who work for the company, and the resources it provides for them to achieve excellence in the Aerospace and Defence sectors.”

Working with Leonardo has allowed Simone to learn more and satisfy his curiosity, working tenaciously to come up with ingenious, innovative solutions even to the most complex problems: “I have been interested in technology and aeronautics since I was young, and working with the Leonardo Group is very gratifying because it allows me to express this interest daily.”

Simone sees Leonardo as “a company where it is possible to contribute directly to creating products unique in terms of technologies and innovation. This challenge requires continuous professional and personal improvement to maintain high performance standards and global competitiveness.” The company focuses strongly on its employees’ professional growth, offering the possibility “to develop and expand their knowledge with a large number of professional development programmes, not only technical and specialised but also in the areas of management and strategy. This is one of the company’s strong points, allowing it to maintain a leadership position in the Aerospace, Defence and Security sector.”

In conclusion, Simone adds, “technology, innovation and quality are the three elements which, combined with the skill and dedication of the people who work for Leonardo, ensure that our products are coveted and competitive worldwide.”