Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. recovered from a flat first quarter, leading its sister companies at United Technologies Corp. in operating profit gains.
The Stratford-based helicopter manufacturer increased sales 9 percent from a year ago to $1.3 billion, and operating profits 28 percent to $111 million. Sikorsky is the largest employer in Fairfield County with more than 8,300 employees in the area.
Last week, the U.S. Department of Defense awarded Sikorsky a $110 million contract for 26 Black Hawk helicopters.
Hartford-based UTC, the largest employer in Connecticut, saw overall net income climb 11 percent to $1.3 billion, and sales 13 percent to $15.7 billion.
Otis Elevator Co. remains UTC”™s most profitable division as measured by dollar amounts, with net income surging 26 percent to $671 million and sales 19 percent to $3.4 billion. Air-conditioner maker Carrier Corp. was the only division to register a decline in either sales or profits, as operating profits fell slightly to $487 million.
At this month”™s Farnborough Air Show in the United Kingdom, Sikorsky announced the sale of three of its top-of-the-line S-92 helicopters, two for Azerbaijan-based International Handling Co. Ltd. to service oil rigs; and one for Azerbaijan Airlines for use as a passenger shuttle. IHC also inked an option to purchase four additional S-92 helicopters at a later date.
The company sold five of its mid-size S-76 helicopters to two oil companies, three for Angola-based Heli Malongo and two for France-based Heli-Union. Sikorsky also revealed a non-binding purchase agreement for four S-76 helicopters from Falcon Aviation Services, an air charter company in the United Arab Emirates.
At its Keystone Helicopter subsidiary in Coatesville, Pa., Sikorsky is currently readying final prototypes of its newest version of the S-76, which has logged five-million flight hours since its introduction in 1978.
Sikorsky is beginning to produce cabins for the S-76 in China; and has explored the possibility of producing S-92 cabins in India, through a partnership with the Tata Group conglomerate.
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The Rev. Sun Myung Moon, whose Unification Church rescued the University of Bridgeport in 1992 from financial collapse, reportedly was slightly injured in the July 20 crash of a Sikorsky S-92 helicopter in South Korea. Three people were seriously hurt in the crash and resulting fire, after the pilot brought the helicopter down in mountainous terrain, reportedly to duck a storm. The Associated Press reported that National Transportation Safety Board investigators are working with representatives from Sikorsky and engine-maker General Electric Co. in the investigation.
