Handles Almost All Production Work On Current S-76

Czech aircraft producer AERO Vodochody tells ANN it has completed and delivered 150 helicopters for Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (SAC) since 2000. The anniversary 150th Sikorsky S-76 helicopter (s/n 760674) was delivered Wednesday.

"The volume of the S-76 Program production increases every year by dozens of per cent, and although AERO is currently going through a tough period of changes, we committed ourselves to deliver more than by 30 % more units this year compared to the year 2006. The increasing interest proves that SAC is satisfied with the quality of our deliveries, which we are really pleased about," said company president Peter Ondro.

AERO produces practically the whole Sikorsky S-76 helicopter excluding dynamic parts and final interior installations. After completing all works in AERO, the helicopters travel by truck to Bremerhaven, Germany, from where they are transported by ship to Stratford. SAC finalizes the helicopter at its headquarters in Stratford, CT.

The S-76 Program is the largest production program in AERO, and generates around 75 percent of the total revenue of the Company. The Aerostructures Program also deals with deliveries for the supersonic F/A-18 aircraft (gun bay door), Airbus (subassemblies and parts for A320 and A340) and Boeing (fixed leading edge kits for B767).

The first S-76 helicopter s/n 760515 was completed in AERO on December 21, 2000 from assemblies delivered by SAC. AERO then gradually overtook the whole production and today, more than 30 percent out of a total of 8,500 parts necessary for the helicopter assembly are produced in-house. The rest of the parts are purchased from approximately 200 subcontractors.

The Sikorsky S-76 helicopter was certified in 1976 and is used mainly by companies transporting their employees to oil platforms, and also in VIP and Emergency versions. Currently, the C++ version is being produced.

FMI: www.aero.cz, www.sikorsky.com