SIKORSKY DELIVERS SECOND S-92® HELICOPTER TO SOUTH KOREA COAST GUARD

COATESVILLE, Pa., June 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The South Korea Coast Guard has accepted delivery of its second S-92® helicopter for search and rescue following a ceremony today. Sikorsky is a Lockheed Martin company (NYSE: LMT).

The South Korea Coast Guard has operated a single S-92 helicopter since March 2014.  To date, that aircraft has flown more than 850 flight hours, saving more than 30 lives flying search and rescue and emergency medical transport missions.

Most recently, on June 2, a 50-year old man was rescued from a ship by the Korea Coast Guard's S-92 helicopter.  A dispatched crew responded to the distress call, reached the victim, and safely transported him to a hospital for care in just 30 minutes.  The victim is recovering.

"The safety and performance of our current S-92 aircraft has truly provided reliability when it comes to the time-sensitive mission of saving lives," said the South Korea Coast Guard's Senior Superintendent and Factory Acceptance Test Inspection Team Lead, Kim Youngmo. "We look forward to putting this new aircraft into operations to continue performing our mission."

"We are honored by your trust in Sikorsky and in our S-92 helicopter when performing these critical missions," said Audrey Brady, general manager, Sikorsky Coatesville Operations. "We look forward to continuing our relationship and, as always, we are committed to providing world class support to your fleet."

Following the aircraft's shipment to South Korea, aircrews will conduct training in-country. The aircraft is expected to enter service by year-end.

Since 2004, Sikorsky has delivered more than 275 S-92 helicopters, predominantly to operators serving the worldwide offshore oil and gas industry, and for civil search and rescue operations. Eleven nations fly the S-92 helicopter for their head of state missions. In May 2014, Sikorsky was selected to build the next U.S. Presidential Helicopter Fleet, the world's most advanced executive transport helicopter, using the S-92 platform.

To learn more about the South Korea Coast Guard's work with the S-92 helicopter see: Sikorsky Celebrates Two South Korean Coast Guard Crews with Winged-S Rescue Awards

SIKORSKY S-92® HELICOPTERS CERTIFIED TO OPERATE IN MEXICO

Mexico’s Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC) has approved the Offshore and Utility Type Certificate for the Sikorsky S-92® helicopter.

STRATFORD, Conn., Nov. 14, 2017/PRNewswire/ -- Mexico's Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC) approved the Offshore and Utility Type Certificate for the Sikorsky S-92® helicopter. The certificate enables the operation of S-92 helicopters in Mexico, in all production configurations including offshore oil and gas transportation, search and rescue, as well as regional airline passenger service and VIP transportation.

DGAC signed the certificate Nov. 6, capping an intensive three-year effort to introduce the S-92 helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company (NYSE: LMT), to Mexico.

"Sikorsky has been excited to watch the evolution of the offshore oil and gas industry in Mexico," said Sikorsky Vice President, Oil & Gas, David Martin. "As the industry expands into new territory, safe and reliable offshore transportation will ensure they remain on schedule and on budget.  With this new certification of the S-92 aircraft, operators and oil and gas companies can select a true heavy helicopter that has the proven reliability and safety to support their success."

"This moves us another step forward in our overall Latin America strategy," said Sikorsky Vice President, Latin America, Adam Schierholz.  "The region has long had faith in Sikorsky products, specifically the Black Hawk.  It's a natural progression, as oil markets expand in Mexico and Colombia, that the S-92 would start to play a prominent role in that sector." 

The S-92 was certified in Colombia in November 2016.

Sikorsky has delivered nearly 300 S-92 helicopters since 2004. With a best-in-class safety record and industry-leading dispatch availability, the multi-mission S-92 aircraft is the preferred aircraft of its size class for offshore oil worker transportation. These helicopters also perform search and rescue missions, head of state missions, and a variety of transportation missions for utility and airline passengers. 

For more information visit Sikorsky Commercial Systems & Services

SIKORSKY AND CANADA'S DND RECEIVE AHS INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR SUCCESSFUL CH-148 CYCLONE HELICOPTER SHIPBOARD TESTS

Combined Test Force proved ship/helicopter operational capability in Sea State 6 conditions

PHOENIX, May 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- AHS International has recognized Canada's Department of National Defence (DND) and Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, for "conducting an extraordinary international effort" to demonstrate flight and shipboard operation of the CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopter from a Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate. The award cites successful expansion of the flight envelop to Sea State 6 conditions, where waves reached a height of six meters (20 feet) with winds up to 55 knots (100 km/hour or 63 mph).

On May 16, 2018, representatives from the Canadian Maritime Helicopter Project (CMHP) Combined Test Force accepted the Leonardo International Fellowship Award during AHS International's annual forum. The award recognizes significant contributions to international vertical flight cooperation.

"The combined industry and government flight test team collaborated fully to demonstrate the CH-148 Cyclone helicopter's anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare missions during some of the roughest winter weather imaginable," said William Falk, Sikorsky CMHP director. "Successful demonstration of strict ship/helicopter capability is required before the Canadian government can deploy this helicopter weapon system."

The CMHP Combined Test Force sailed five times into the waters off Nova Scotia from 2010-2017 during late December to early March when the weather conditions produced the necessary wave heights and winds. In total, the team flew 270 hours and performed approximately 975 landings on the flight decks of HMCSMontréal and HMCS Halifax. 

Key among the design features for the Cyclone, Sikorsky engineered:

• a retractable probe on the belly of the aircraft to more securely cinch the 29,300-lb. Cyclone to the ship's flight deck in high sea states;
• a ground support tool with an articulating arm that, with the Recovery, Assist, Secure and Traverse (RAST) system, allows the deck crew to remotely align the aircraft's nose prior to guiding the helicopter into the hangar.

A combined DND/Sikorsky aircrew also demonstrated utility of the aircraft's full authority fly-by-wire flight controls, which can hold the aircraft in a precise hover during high wind states.

Other tests included main rotor blade and tail pylon fold, hover-in-flight refuel, maintenance operations, torpedo loading, and ship-to-ship replenishment. These operations also were demonstrated at night with and without night vision goggles.

The shipboard tests were part of a 10-year, 2,800-hour flight test program that is expected to conclude in early 2019. The Royal Canadian Air Force will take delivery of the last of its 28 Sikorsky designed and built CH-148 Cyclone aircraft by 2021 to replace the CH-124 Sea King helicopter fleet, which retires this year.

Incorporated in 1943 as the American Helicopter Society, AHS International today continues to bring together industry, academia and government to tackle the toughest challenges in vertical flight technology.

S-92 HELICOPTER SAVING LIVES ON TOP OF THE WORLD

Sikorsky recognized North Slope Borough in March 2017 for its critical role in executing life savings missions and ensuring safety with the S-92 helicopter. Sikorsky President Dan Schultz presented the recognition to North Slope Borough Director April Brower and team members in a private ceremony at the 2017 Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo show.

NSB is located above the Arctic Circle and experiences some of the harshest cold weather conditions in the world, with temperatures as low as -55 degrees Celsius with the wind chill. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, NSB has a total area of 94,796 square miles of which 88,695 are land and 6,101 are water, thus the need for a long-range, all-weather capable aircraft.

Since September 2016, the NSB search and rescue team has performed nearly a dozen missions, helping both individuals and entire communities in compromising situations, all while facing extreme weather conditions.

North Slope Borough took delivery of it’s first-ever Sikorsky S-92 helicopter in September 2016 and dedicated the final months of the year to training the crews and response teams for familiarization of their new aircraft capabilities. Since then, the NSB search and rescue team has performed nearly a dozen missions, helping both individuals and entire communities in compromising situations, all while facing extreme weather conditions.

One critical mission occurred on January 30, when a storm in Kaktovik, Alaska, 272 miles east of Barrow near the Canadian coast, had a series of storms with sustained winds of 85 mph. These weather conditions caused damage to the water supply by producing a rapid water leak, eliminating 30 days of water in just 24 hours for the population of almost 250 residents. Also, the force of the elements knocked a building off its foundation and onto a fuel storage tank, creating a fuel spill that jeopardized the safety of those in the nearby community. To combat the casualties, the NSB S-92 helicopter was dispatched to the scene, transporting NSB Public Works and Spill Response personnel who successfully repaired the fuel tank, cleaned the spill and restored water supply for the entire community.   

WORLDWIDE S-92® HELICOPTER FLEET SURPASSES 500,000 HOURS

Las Vegas, Nevada - Serving customers around the world in missions as diverse as the countries flying it, the S-92® global helicopter fleet has surpassed 500,000 flight hours. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX), celebrated the milestone at the 2013 Heli-Expo Industry Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“The S-92 helicopter was conceived as a commercial aircraft with the heart of a BLACK HAWK and designed to meet the needs of the North Sea offshore market, and today, the S-92 helicopter is a well established, versatile aircraft that has become known for its reliability, comfort and safety features,” said Mick Maurer, Sikorsky President.

More than 90% of all S-92 hours today are flown in the offshore configuration, with 54% being flown in harsh North Sea conditions. Designers mandated FAR/JAR safety margins, on-condition maintenance and revenue-producing operating costs for commercial customers.

“In the nine years that the S-92 helicopter has been steadily carving its place in the large helicopter market segment, it has grown from the ‘new kid on the block’ proving its potential to a super performer in a variety of missions,” said Carey Bond, President of Sikorsky Global Helicopters.

“Sikorsky is proud of this fleet hour achievement by our S-92 for many reasons – among them are the lives it has saved through search and rescue, the countries that entrust it with the transport of their heads of state, and the service to the offshore oil industry in getting workers to their jobs and home again. Five hundred thousand flight hours is a testament to the reliability of the S-92 aircraft and to the loyalty, trust and commitment of our customers; and for all of that, Sikorsky is both proud and appreciative.”

The S-92 helicopter was introduced in mockup form in 1992 with an unveiling at the Heli-Expo industry show that year in Las Vegas, Nevada. It ultimately made its first flight in 1998 at Sikorsky’s Development Flight Center in Florida. PHI Inc. became its first commercial operator when it purchased the S-92 helicopter in 2004 to perform the offshore oil transport mission.

Today, PHI continues to operate a strong fleet of 24 S-92 helicopters. Al Gonsoulin, PHI Chief Executive Officer, said, “The S-92 is the deepwater aircraft of choice in the Gulf of Mexico; its range, payload and, most importantly, its reliability have greatly supported the expansion of drilling and exploration to some of the farthest points in the Gulf and Alaska. It is a solid performer, day in and day out.”

CHC Helicopter’s S-92 helicopters, now numbering 37 in the company’s worldwide fleet, have logged more than 150,000 hours of flight time – since 2005 for offshore transportation to the oil-and-gas industry, and since 2007 for search-and-rescue missions. “Every day in places around the globe, CHC is taking customers further, enabling them to do more and bringing them home safely,” said William Amelio, CHC’s president and chief executive officer. “Sikorsky and its S-92s are important to fulfilling that purpose.”

Bristow Group’s global fleet includes 49 S-92 helicopters that operate in the North Sea, Canada, Brazil, U.S. Gulf of Mexico and Nigeria. Additionally, Bristow has 18 S-92 helicopters on order and options for 16 more. Bristow’s S-92 fleet has logged over 155,000 hours in its operations in the North Sea, U.S. Gulf of Mexico and Nigeria. William Chiles, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Bristow is the leading provider of helicopter services with an outstanding record in safety performance. We strive to provide operational excellence to our clients by providing the safest, most reliable and efficient service. The S-92 embodies these features as part of our global fleet.”

Sikorsky is marking the milestone by conducting celebrations with its customers. Events are planned in the coming months in the Gulf of Mexico, North Sea region, Brazil, and China. Sikorsky also is hosting an event at its booth at Heli-Expo on March 6 to recognize S-92 helicopter customers.

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Conn., is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture, and service. United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., provides a broad range of high technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries.

Sikorsky and Babcock Sign 10-Year Support Agreement for S-92® Helicopter

FARNBOROUGH, England, July 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Sikorsky and Babcock Mission Critical Services Ltd. today signed a 10-year agreement providing Babcock's S-92® helicopter fleet with extended support for its aftermarket material needs. Sikorsky's Total Assurance Program provides Babcock continued aftermarket support to operate its S-92 fleet within a known budget, reducing the risk of unplanned costs. Babcock MCS Ltd. is a division of Babcock International Group plc. Sikorsky is a Lockheed Martin Company (NYSE: LMT).

The contract was signed in a ceremony at the 2016 Farnborough Air Show by Sikorsky Vice President for Strategy & Business Development Nathalie Previte and Babcock MCS Chief Operating Officer Andrea Cicero.

"We are pleased that Sikorsky is committed to improving material availability to keep these aircraft flying, and we are confident they will continue providing world-class support allowing us to deliver the critical services upon which our customers rely," said Cicero.

"We have worked collaboratively with Babcock MCS on a number of points over the past two years," said Previte. "This agreement is the result of a collaborative effort to expand our support presence and meet Babcock's fleet requirements for improved operational readiness for their critical missions in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres."

Sikorsky and Babcock have done business together since 1979. The Babcock fleet currently features more than 20 Sikorsky aircraft, operating in the North Sea, Western Australia and Spain. Certified to meet the most stringent safety requirements around the world, the S-92 helicopter is one of the most successful helicopters in operation.

Sikorsky, a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture and service, has delivered more than 275 S-92 helicopters worldwide.  The global fleet recently surpassed one million flight hours. S-92 helicopters perform a variety of missions including offshore oil and gas personnel transport, search and rescue, and a variety of other transportation missions for head of state, utility and airline passengers.

Sikorsky Launches Safety Enhancement Program with PHI, Inc. and Metro Aviation

DALLAS, March 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Sikorsky, PHI Inc. and Outerlink Global Solutions, a Metro Aviation company, today announced that the S-92® helicopter has demonstrated the ability to transmit in-flight, real-time Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) data to PHI's operations control center. The announcement came at the 2017 Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo show. Sikorsky is a Lockheed Martin company (NYSE: LMT).

With this new capability, PHI operators can view, assess and track important aircraft health data and provide additional information to aircraft crew and ground support teams to enhance operational and maintenance decisions. Implemented with an open architecture-based system solution, connectivity with additional existing global satellite networks is intended to support the global S-92 fleet.

"Safety is our top priority at Sikorsky," said Sikorsky's Vice President for Commercial Systems & Services, Dana Fiatarone. "Developing this directly with our long-time customer and operator, PHI, while employing Metro Aviation's technology, allows us to ensure we are meeting our customers' needs and furthering safety of rotorcraft flight."

"PHI believes this technology is a real step forward, and we are honored to have partnered with Sikorsky and Metro Aviation to help bring this new advancement in safety to our industry," said Lance Bospflug, Chief Operating Officer, PHI, Inc. "This new solution enhances flight crew decision making and improves support from the Operations Control Center by providing both with real-time aircraft health information."

"We are bringing revolutionary technology to our industry," said Metro Aviation President Mike Stanberry. "We now have the ability to predict events by analyzing historical data in real-time. That innovation helps operators more efficiently run their fleet and could very well be lifesaving."

Sikorsky and PHI have done business for more than 60 years. The PHI fleet currently features 70 commercial Sikorsky aircraft throughout the world.

Since 2004, Sikorsky has delivered more than 275 S-92 helicopters, predominantly to operators serving the worldwide offshore oil and gas industry. For additional information, visit: Sikorsky Commercial Systems & Services