SIKORSKY CROWNED
Sikorsky has been selected as the preferred helicopter supplier by the UK royal family. If the deal gets the go-ahead from the UK government, Sikorsky will supply an S-76C++ in 2009 to replace the household's S-76C+ in service. The selection is a major boost for the US airframer, which two years ago lost a long-term contract to the Lockheed Martin-led EH101 team to supply US presidential helicopters to Marine One, operated by the US Navy.
CORRECTION
In our report about the conversion of Bombardier CRJ200s by the Project Phoenix consortium (Flight International, 20-26 November) we misnamed Flying Colours, one of the completion companies involved in this venture, as Primary Colours.
GULF JETS
Dubai charter operator Gulf Jet has placed a $70 million contract with Hawker Beechcraft for two Hawker 4000s, a Hawker 900XP and two Premier IA business jets. The deal was made by Empire Aviation Group, a Hawker Beechcraft authorised sales representative for the United Arab Emirates.
Source: Flight International