Sat, Feb 18, 2012
Aircraft Has Racked Up Over 37,000 Flight Hours
Sikorsky Aircraft has recognized Helijet International as
operator of the world's highest airtime Sikorsky S-76 airframe
— an S-76A helicopter (serial number 760074) with 37,025
flight hours. Since 1986, aircraft 760074, an S-76A helicopter
operating in Helijet's airline service, has carried more than
500,000 scheduled service passengers more than 3 million miles
between Helijet passenger terminals in Vancouver and Victoria,
British Columbia.
"Helijet's S-76A helicopters collectively have accumulated an
impeccable service record," said Dan Hunter, Sikorsky Global
Helicopter's Director of Programs. "The key to success is starting
with a great product and instituting a highly effective maintenance
program that maintains the aircraft in a safe and airworthy state.
We salute Helijet for the discipline and quality of their repair
station in support of an outstanding transport service over the
past 25 years."
Aircraft 760074 entered service in July 1980, and then flew
2,287 hours during nine years as a corporate aircraft in the
north-eastern United States. Helijet acquired the aircraft in
January 1990. "We established the reliability of aircraft 760074
during 1,980 flight hours in the first 12 months of operation,"
said Rick Hill, Helijet's Vice President of Operations. "For the
last 22 years, aircraft 760074 has averaged 132 hours of flying a
month. We've seen that if you maintain a great product, you'll have
exceptional reliability for a long time."
To ensure uninterrupted passenger service, Helijet adopted
Sikorsky's equalized inspection/maintenance program that enables
the company's fleet to operate at a high operational availability
rate. "Our 14 maintenance engineers maintain our aircraft on a
continual basis by spreading the maintenance loads into equal
segments," said Morris Forchuk, Helijet's Director of
Maintenance.
In addition to operating the highest airtime S-76A aircraft,
Helijet operates an additional four S-76A aircraft, as well as
three medically equipped S-76C+ helicopters that provide air
ambulance service to the province of British Columbia. Helijet also
provides two medically equipped Lear 31A aircraft in support of the
BC Ambulance service and other medical service clients.
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