Sikorsky gains fuel UTC growth

Accelerating helicopter shipments at Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. contributed to a 13 percent gain in revenue at parent United Technologies Corp.
Stratford-based Sikorsky is Fairfield County”™s largest employer, and Hartford-based UTC is Connecticut”™s.
Thanks in part to the shipment of 49 large helicopters during the second quarter, Sikorsky had an $87 million profit on $1.2 billion in revenue, up from earnings of $42 million on $767 million in sales during the second quarter of 2006.
Of Sikorsky”™s revenue increase of $431 million, more than half of the amount was driven by military aircraft deliveries and support. The government of Brazil is currently negotiating a $300 million contract to purchase six Black Hawk helicopters from Sikorsky.
Companywide, UTC earned $1.1 billion on $13.9 billion in revenue, with sales up 14 percent from the previous year. UTC indicated its year-over-year growth figures were largely due to strides the company has made to re-establish sales momentum at Sikorsky following a strike in the spring of 2006.
Aircraft engine maker Pratt & Whitney was the only UTC division to see profits shrink in the second quarter, by 2.4 percent.
In separate Sikorsky news, the manufacturer delivered the first S-92 helicopters to China for use by China Eastern Airlines Group ferrying personnel and equipment to offshore oil rigs. China Eastern affiliate Eastern General Aviation Corp. is already the second-largest operator of Sikorsky helicopters in China.