Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, is leading an initiative to boost the helicopter industry in South America with the planned construction of an S-92 center of excellence in Brazil. The effort will be in partnership with CHC Helicopter Group’s Heli-One and Milestone Aviation.
According to Sikorsky, the combined expertise of the three businesses will enable the facility, to be located in Rio de Janeiro, to offer a wide range of comprehensive support services and embedded maintenance capabilities.
With its capabilities, the center of excellence is expected to improve mission readiness status and S-92 availability in Brazil and other neighboring countries.
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Leon Silva, Sikorsky’s vice president of global commercial and military systems, noted his company’s commitment to providing clients with the tools needed to sustain their aircraft.
“This initiative combines the best skills, expertise and technologies from across the industry to enable customers to keep their S-92 helicopters in service for longer and maximize operational readiness,” he said.
The Lockheed Martin website touts the S-92 as the industry standard for safety and reliability. Its two new General Electric CT7-8A6 turboshaft engines give the helicopter more power at high altitudes and in hotter temperatures. The helicopter also comes equipped with Gross Weight Expansion with LifePlus and the Phase IV Main Gearbox.
According to Tom Burke, president and CEO at CHC Helicopter Group, the combination of the three companies’ expertise and resources will enable a more integrated and efficient support ecosystem for the growing number of S-92 helicopters in the region.