Another 26 Going To The Bristow Group
Sikorsky announced two major deals at Heli-Expo in Las Vegas, NV Tuesday. The company inked agreements for 30 aircraft with Milestone Aviation Group, and 26 to be delivered to The Bristow Group.
Milestone, which leases aircraft to helicopter operators worldwide, agreed to purchase 23 S-92 (pictured) and seven S-76D aircraft. The agreements also include options to buy up to an additional 14 S-92 and 10 S-76D helicopters. Sikorsky expects to begin delivering the S-92 and S-76D helicopters beginning in 2013 and continuing through 2017.
“The global appetite for oil continues to drive significant growth in demand for offshore oil helicopters and operators, and no one has fueled the offshore oil helicopter market sector with more financial capital in the last two years than Milestone,” said Robert Kokorda, Sikorsky’s Vice President of Sales & Marketing.
Founded in 2010, Milestone has more than 79 helicopters leased, to date, valued at more than one billion dollars and including contracts with the four largest global helicopter operators, as well as small and mid-sized high-quality operators globally. Milestone has secured close-in delivery positions for the most highly desirable helicopter assets, providing its customers with the opportunity to bid on tenders immediately without the traditional constraints of Original Equipment Manufacturer production backlog.
Milestone’s business model is based on building long-term business relationships with Sikorsky and partnerships with its worldwide customer base. “The S-92 and S-76D are both great helicopters and workhorses of the offshore oil and gas industry,” said Richard Santulli, Milestone’s Chairman. “We believe there will be tremendous demand for these machines from operators all over the world. We are thrilled to work with Sikorsky to deliver their product to market.”
The Bristow Group, which supplies aircraft to the offshore oil and natural gas industry, entered into an agreement with Sikorsky for 10 S-76D (pictured) helicopters, with options for another 16, to perform the offshore oil transport mission. The S-76D is powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada’s compact and light-weight PW210S, which delivers the best in class power-to-weight ratio and fuel burn with excellent payload and range benefits.
“This agreement represents the S-76D helicopter’s introduction into operations in the Gulf of Mexico and other international arenas later this year, and it also further strengthens the more than 40-year relationship between the Bristow Group and Sikorsky Aircraft,” said Sikorsky President Mick Maurer. “Bristow has consistently shown its consideration for safety, leadership, and commitment to its worldwide customers by seeking the latest state-of-the-art equipment, and their choice of the S-76D affirms their commitment to providing the best value to its customers.”
Bristow Group President and Chief Executive Officer Bill Chiles said the S-76D helicopters will join Bristow’s worldwide fleet of more than 500 aircraft. “Without question, the intensive offshore oil and gas transportation mission requires a reliable aircraft that is ready to work an aggressive schedule and the S-76 has continuously proven itself in that role. Bristow’s objective is to provide the safest, most reliable and efficient service to our clients and we look forward to putting the new S-76D with its enhanced capabilities into our operations around the world.”
Sikorsky expects to begin delivering the S-76D helicopters beginning this year.
(S-92 and S-76D file images provided by Sikorsky)
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