Sikorsky S-76D wins approval from China CAAC

Shanghai, China – Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.’s S-76D aircraft has been validated by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), allowing Sikorsky to begin delivering the commercial helicopter to customers there.

The S-76D is the latest S-76 model to be validated by CAAC having been preceded by the S-76A and S-76C helicopters. More than 30 Sikorsky S-76 aircraft currently operate in China.

Yunnan Jingcheng Group will be the first company in China to take delivery of a S-76D helicopter. The company contracted for a new helicopter in 2012 and is scheduled to receive the aircraft this month. Jingcheng already flies an S-92 helicopter for transporting corporate and government VIPs. In September 2013, a second S-92 aircraft was purchased with delivery expected in November 2015.

"We are thrilled to have the S-76D certified by the CAAC. This certification helps expand our presence in a strategically important region with many potential S-76D customers," says Ryan McFeaters, general manager, Sikorsky Aircraft – China. "We are also glad to continue working with Jingcheng, an important Sikorsky customer, and look forward to hearing of their successes with this aircraft."

The S-76D helicopter has a backlog exceeding $650 million. Sikorsky has delivered more than 800 S-76 helicopters to customers globally since 1979. The S-76D's baseline equipment includes Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210S engines; a Thales TopDeck integrated avionics system and four-axis autopilot; health and usage monitoring system (HUMS) incorporated into fleet monitoring and analysis; active vibration control; and all-composite, flaw-tolerant main rotor blades. A rotor ice protection system (RIPS) for all-weather capability will be available as an option.

In September 2013, Sikorsky Aircraft and Changhe Aircraft Industries Corp. signed an agreement for Changhe to produce S-76D commercial helicopter cabins for Sikorsky. Changhe serves as a second source for S-76D cabins, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2016 and production volume based on market demand. Aero Vodochody in the Czech Republic also supplies the cabins.

Source: Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.