Bristow orders up to 26 Sikorsky S-76D helicopters for oil and gas transport missions

LAS VEGAS, 5 March 2013. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX), has entered into an agreement to sell 10 S-76D helicopters to Bristow Group, with options for another 16, to perform offshore oil transport missions.

The S-76D, powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada’s compact, lightweight PW210S, is designed to deliver 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,” says 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.”

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,” says Bristow Group President and Chief Executive Officer Bill Chiles. “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.