the BA609, potentially to act as an escort for V-22s. However, AgustaWestland's deal with Bell for taking over the BA609 program precludes the aircraft from carrying arms. In 2001, Terry Stinson, then chairman and CEO of Bell Helicopters, declared that the aircraft will cost "at least ". In 2004, Don Barbour, then executive marketing director, stated that "early orders had been taken at a price of between $8 and $10 million.” Since 1999, orders have been at a price to be confirmed no later than 24 months before aircraft delivery. In 2012, industry reporters estimated that the final price tag may come to $30 million, while in 2015 some believed the price to be only around $24 million. Confirmed orders were 77 in 1999, but only 70 by 2012 depending on the final unit price. , they were down to 60 orders for the AW609. The company intends to have production facilities ready for completing orders right after FAA certification. Bristow Helicopters intends to order 10 or more. Michael Bloomberg, the U.S. billionaire businessman and politician, is "near the top" of the list of buyers who have put a deposit down on the AW609 tiltrotor aircraft. In February 2015, the Italian Army released a white paper documenting its vision of future procurement efforts, it included the intention to procure a force of tiltrotor aircraft for rapid troop-transport and medical evacuation duties; it has been speculated in the media that the AW609 is a likely candidate for the requirement. On 10 November 2015, United Arab Emirates selected a search and rescue variant of the AW609, signing a memorandum of understanding for three of them, with an option for three more. However, as of May 2019, no contract with the UAE has been signed. Currently being built at AWPC Philadelphia, in March 2022, Leonardo projected entry into service in 2023. Notable accidents and incidents On 30 October 2015, the second of the two prototypes (N609AG), which first flew in 2006, crashed near AgustaWestland's Vergiate facility in North West Italy, killing long-time test pilots Pietro Venanzi and Herb Moran. The aircraft broke up in midair after 27 minutes of flight, on a flight plan that included high speed testing. Investigators consider the most likely cause to be changes in flight control laws and tail changes. These led to a "Dutch roll" instability while diving at where previously only had been achieved. The Italian