The Export-Import Bank of the United States authorized more than $50 million to guarantee a loan extended by Apple Bank to Aeroservicios Especializados S.A. DE C.V. of Mexico, which will finance the export of a fleet of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. S-76D helicopters to Mexico.
Ex-Im Bank stated the deal will support 450 jobs.
Separately, Stratford-based Sikorsky revealed it is establishing a flight and maintenance training academy in Altus, Okla., in partnership with Aviation Training Consulting based there.
The Sikorsky Training Academy will initially focus on foreign militaries using the Black Hawk helicopter as the training platform.
Sikorsky stated that Altus, located near Fort Sill, provides access to several hundred square miles of operating space and certified night-vision routes, among other benefits.
“Many of our customers, particularly U.S. government agencies and foreign militaries, have difficulty obtaining thorough standardized training for their flight crews and maintenance teams,” said David Adler, president of Sikorsky Aerospace Services, in a prepared statement. “In particular, there is a lack of advanced mission training beyond basic conversion courses and currency training.”
