Latest Generation Helicopter to Fly the Gulf for PHI
The first production Sikorsky S-92
helicopter is at its home base, from which it will open up a new
age of Gulf of Mexico offshore service with Petroleum Helicopters,
Inc. (PHI).
The first of two S-92 aircraft bought by the helicopter
transportation company to support deepwater drilling and production
activity was flown in September to PHI in Lafayette, La., from
Sikorsky's main plant in Connecticut. PHI's second S-92 is nearing
delivery. Another S-92 was delivered last month to a VIP customer
in the United Kingdom.
"The S-92 is a revolutionary aircraft, representing an entirely new
design. The result is the most technologically advanced and safest
helicopter in the world," said Sikorsky President Steve Finger.
"PHI and Sikorsky worked hard during this phase of the S-92's life
to produce a configuration that mirrors future production aircraft
in this great new generation."
Al A. Gonsoulin, chairman and CEO of PHI, said, "We feel our
customers will be pleased with the S-92 because of its advanced
safety features, range, payload, cabin size and cost effectiveness.
The inclusion of Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS)
and Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) aboard our
first two S-92s is important and provides another level of safety
for our customer base."
Sikorsky already has orders or options for 60 S-92 helicopters.
S-92 completion will increase through the end of 2004, with
decreasing intervals between deliveries. The plan is to deliver 18
aircraft in 2005.
Sikorsky has been selected by the Government of Canada to
provide 28 military H-92 derivatives. Another version of the H-92
is also being campaigned by Sikorsky to win the competition for the
next-generation helicopter to serve the White House mission.
The arrival of the S-92 at PHI is the culmination of an effort
to ready the aircraft for offshore transportation service, which
included EGPWS and TCAS certification, as well as validation of the
Coupled Flight Director and envelope expansion required for
commercial charter service.
PHI signed an agreement in August 2003 to purchase two Sikorsky
S-92 helicopters, Sikorsky's newest aircraft in the medium-lift
helicopter market. The company has utilized every commercial
helicopter that Sikorsky has produced, from the S-55 in the early
1960s to the S-92 today.
Sales of the S-92 are heating up in two of the world's leading
oil-producing regions, the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea, as
well as in the corporate and VIP markets.