Sikorsky has flown the first production S-92, and delivery to launch customer Petroleum Helicopters (PHI) is expected this month. Two of the 12 aircraft to be delivered this year will be VIP transports and the rest will go to offshore operators, including Norway's Norsk Helikopter, which will receive the second S-92.
Earlier this month the 19-seat, twin-turbine S-92 became the first helicopter to be certificated by the new European Aviation Safety Agency, following US Federal Aviation Administration type certification in December 2002. Canadian certification is scheduled for the third quarter. US instrument flight rules approval was received in April and final approval for flight into known icing is expected later this year.
FlightSafety International is training the first crews on its S-92 simulator at West Palm Beach, Florida, with Level D approval of the device expected next month. Meanwhile, Sikorsky is gearing up for service introduction, with a spares inventory in place and systems being implemented to capture data from the S-92's health and usage monitoring system, bearing monitors and maintenance computer.
GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC
Source: Flight International
