Growing Interest In S-300 Series In Difficult Economic
Times
Sikorsky Global Helicopters, a business unit of Sikorsky
Aircraft Corp., is seeing a resurgence of interest in its S-300C
and S-300CBi helicopters, with sales activity for the beginning of
2010 showing a 50 percent increase over the same time period in
2009. All incoming orders so far in 2010 have been fleet orders of
two to four helicopters each for flight training, patrol,
agricultural and wildlife work, and other diverse operations in the
United States and around the world.
"In lean economic times, more operators have come to recognize
S-300 series helicopters as reliable, economic solutions to their
mission requirements," said David Oglesbee, director, Sikorsky
Global Helicopters Light Helicopter Division. "Low operating costs
and a strong safety record also have encouraged customers to add
S-300 (pictured, right) series helicopters to their
fleets to grow and diversify their businesses in a soft
market."
In the United States, Sikorsky has seen colleges expanding their
current rotary fleet or diversifying their aviation programs to
include rotary training. Many of these institutions are choosing
Sikorsky light helicopters to meet their needs.
The University of North Dakota's John D. Odegard School of
Aerospace Sciences, for example, currently operates six Sikorsky
light helicopters in its flight training program and has four
S-300C helicopters on order for delivery in 2010. UND Aerospace has
operated S-300 series helicopters in its training program since
1983.
Emerging international markets also have been a source of
growth for a variety of missions. Shanghai Sikorsky has 10 civil
helicopters on order: eight S-300C helicopters and two S-300CBi
(pictured, right) helicopters. These aircraft will be used for
training, agriculture, and other missions. Shanghai Sikorsky is the
distributor for Sikorsky light helicopters in China.
After delivering the first Sikorsky light helicopter into Kenya,
North East Helicopters of South Africa has placed orders for two
more helicopters, which are currently scheduled for delivery in the
first half of 2010. There are more than 50 S-300 series helicopters
now operating in southern Africa, where North East Helicopters is
the distributor for Sikorsky light helicopters.
EDRA Aeronáutica of Brazil has two S-300CBi helicopters
on order for law enforcement in Brazil. EDRA is another distributor
for Sikorsky light helicopters. Seven state police agencies in
Brazil operate a total of 11 S-300CBi and S-300C helicopters. EDRA
has trained about 75 percent of the police pilots in Brazil and is
pursuing future sales to support upcoming international sporting
events in Brazil over the next few years.
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