Six Aircraft Already In The Pipeline For A Mexican Offshore Transportation Provider

The government of Mexico's civil aviation authority, the Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (DGAC), has awarded Type Certification to Sikorsky for its S-76D helicopter. The FAA awarded Type Certification of the S-76D model in October 2012, and the helicopter continues its envelope expansion as the first models move through final modifications for customer deliveries in 2013.

“Mexico is a growing market for Sikorsky. We have quintupled the total number of Sikorsky helicopters in the military, paramilitary, and commercial markets there in the last five years, and this co-validation of the S-76D helicopter by the Mexican DGAC, paves the way for further growth of our commercial business there,” said Carey Bond, President of Sikorsky Global Helicopters. “As PEMEX expands its offshore oil exploration, we are confident that the fleet of S-76D helicopters servicing this work will grow proportionately.”

At the Heli-Expo industry trade show in early March, Sikorsky announced the signing of a contract with ASESA (Aeroservicios Especializados, S.A. de C.V.), a Mexican helicopter service provider, for the purchase of six S-76D helicopters to serve the offshore oil transport mission. The sale marks the first time ASESA has purchased a new Sikorsky helicopter, and the first sale of an S-76D helicopter into Mexico. ASESA is scheduled to receive the first S-76D helicopter into service later this year, with the additional five aircraft set to enter service in 2014.

Since it received FAA Type Certification, the S-76D helicopter has attracted customers across all mission segments and customer regions. Among the new S-76D helicopter customers are Milestone Aviation Group, China’s Ministry of Transport’s Rescue and Salvage Bureau, Japan Coast Guard, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, and Bristow Group.

(S-76D image from file)

FMI: www.sikorsky.com