Milestone Comes After Only 5 Months Of Service

Sikorsky announced Tuesday at the Farnborough Air Show that National Helicopter Services Ltd. (NHSL) recently reached 500 flight hours in its S-76D helicopter.

In February 2014, NHSL flew the first-ever revenue flight of an S-76D helicopter. National Helicopters, which operates out of Trinidad and Tobago, has been a Sikorsky customer for more than 35 years and logged more than 100,000 hours in the S-76 family of helicopters. NHSL currently flies eight S-76 aircraft including one S-76D. They are scheduled to receive two additional S-76D helicopters later this year.

"National is really putting the S-76D to work and learning just how reliable the aircraft is," said Carey Bond, president, Sikorsky Commercial Systems & Services. "We are proud to see that the aircraft can not only meet their needs in the oil and gas segment, but exceed them as well."

"Our Sikorsky aircraft continue exceeding mission requirements while getting crews safely and efficiently to where they need to go," said Joshey Mahabir, National's CEO and General Manager. "We are thrilled with the performance of the S-76D helicopter and look forward to expanding our fleet with Sikorsky products."

Sikorsky also announced Tuesday that it has begun delivering S-76D helicopters configured for VIP operations as well as S-76D aircraft equipped for search-and-rescue (SAR) service. By the end of this year, the company expects to deliver S-76D helicopters equipped for the Emergency Medical Services; the fourth and final mission segment for the S-76D helicopter.

(Image provided by Sikorsky)

FMI: www.sikorsky.com