Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. has delivered an offshore-outfitted S-76D helicopter to South Africa-based Titan Helicopter Group, making for the first S-76D in Africa.
A ceremony marking the deal was held Dec. 17 at Associated Aircraft Group, a Sikorsky company based in Wappingers Falls.
Stratford-based Sikorsky is a subsidiary of Hartford-based United Technologies Corp.
Titan Helicopter Group was established in 1993 and is headquartered in South Africa. Its fleet currently features Sikorsky S-76 A++, S-76C and S-76C+ helicopters as well as the S-61N aircraft.
The S-76D helicopter that Titan will operate will be on lease from Milestone Aviation Group, which has headquarters in Ireland and Ohio. Milestone has 86 Sikorsky aircraft in its fleet.
“The S-76D helicopter has quickly spread to various markets around the world and Africa is another key region with many potential customers,” said Ed Beyer, vice president, Sikorsky Commercial Systems & Services, in a press release. “It”™s always a pleasure to work with Titan as well as Milestone Aviation, and we can”™t wait to see how the S-76D will elevate their business.”
Sikorsky has delivered more than 800 S-76 helicopters to customers globally since 1979.
According to Sikorsky, The new S-76D helicopter”™s equipment includes “Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210S engines; a THALES TopDeck integrated avionics system and four-axis autopilot; Health and Usage Monitoring System (HUMS) incorporated into fleet monitoring and analysis; active vibration control; and all-composite, flaw-tolerant main rotor blades.”
Sikorksy reported that in addition to the oil and gas sector, the S-76D is in high demand for VIP and executive personal transport.
