Falcon Aviation Services Signs Delivery Position Agreements for Four Sikorsky S-76D(TM) Helicopters

Written by thomas · Filed Under Aeronautics News 

July 16, 2008

thomas

FARNBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL AIR SHOW, July 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ —
Falcon Aviation Services (FAS), a provider of helicopter charter and
maintenance services based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), today
announced the signing of delivery position agreements for four S-76D(TM)
helicopters with Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. for VIP/Corporate transport.
Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

FAS was formed in late 2005 under the initiative of His Highness Dr.
Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, who attended the Farnborough
Air Show and announced the signings with Sikorsky. The S-76D helicopter
will be the next production model in the S-76(R) helicopter line that
already has delivered more than 700 aircraft performing many missions
including VIP and Head of State, emergency medical transport, search and
rescue, civil defense, and offshore oil crew transport. The S-76D model is
on track for initial certification in late 2009.

With 14 aircraft currently in service, the FAS growth strategy is
underpinned by firm orders for an additional 23 new helicopters and
corporate jets with a value exceeding USD $450 million. The S-76D
helicopter positions, if converted to delivery contracts, would become the
first Sikorsky aircraft to join the fleet, making FAS the first operator of
the S-76D helicopter in the UAE.

“Sikorsky is proud to be associated with Falcon Aviation Services and
to continue supporting the growth of general aviation in the UAE,” said
Joseph Gigantelli, Sikorsky’s Regional Sales Executive for the Middle East
region. “We look forward to expanding on our relationship with FAS and
already have entered discussions on working with them to establish a
maintenance center for our commercial helicopters.”

The S-76D helicopter offers a more than 1,000-lb increase in useful
load and extended range performance over the S-76C+(TM) aircraft. In
addition, the D model will feature:

— All-composite, flaw-tolerant main rotor blades
— Rotor Ice Protection System (RIPS,) as an available option
— Advanced Thales TopDeck(R) avionics system and autopilot
— Dual speed rotor with active vibration control system
— Pratt & Whitney Canada PW 210S engine
— Quiet tail rotor
— Additional fuel capacity
— New electrical generation system
— Quiet Zone(TM) technology main gearbox
— Goodrich Vigor(R) Health and Usage Management System (VHUMS)

The S-76C++(TM) helicopter, which first entered service in 2005 and
remains the current production model, includes a powerful Turbomeca Arriel
2S2 Engine, an inlet barrier filter to protect the engine against erosion
and environmental contaminants, a new Health and Usage Monitoring System,
and a quiet main gearbox utilizing Quiet Zone(TM) technology that will
significantly reduce interior noise levels without any weight, maintenance
or Time Between Overhaul penalties.

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Conn., USA, is a world
leader in helicopter design, manufacture and service. The company’s mission
statement reflects its long commitment to safety and innovation: “We
pioneer flight solutions that bring people home everywhere … every
time(TM).” United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., USA,
provides a broad range of high technology products and support services to
the aerospace and building systems industries.

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning
future business opportunities. Actual results may differ materially from
those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including
but not limited to: challenges in the design, development, production and
support of advanced technologies; as well as other risks and uncertainties,
including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in United
Technologies Corporation’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

SOURCE Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.

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