Sikorsky has signed initial agreements to place its first civil S-92 Helibus helicopters with two Canadian operators. Nevertheless, the US helicopter company and rival EH Industries face a battle trying to break into the traditional turboprop airline market.
Cougar Helicopters has signed a letter of intent to be the first launch customer for the 19-seat machine. The eastern Canadian offshore oil support operator has placed a deposit to take the first production helicopter in April 2002.
Vancouver-based Helijet has also initialled an agreement to take a single S-92 in 2002, which would make it the first scheduled helicopter airline operator to order the helicopter. The company operates five Sikorsky S-76s between Vancouver, Victoria and Seattle.
Sikorsky, however, acknowledges there will have to be changes in air traffic control if large helicopters are to win wider airline acceptance as potential 19-30-seat turboprop replacements. "We can't be routed on to the turboprop en route structure or approaches because we still get in the way," says Tommy Thomason, Sikorsky vice- president civil programmes.
The helicopter industry is looking to the differential global positioning system (DGPS) and the development of a free flight structure to open the door to wider helicopter applications. Sikorsky has helped lead this effort by demonstrating DGPS with an S-76.
Another traditional hurdle has been economics. Despite advances in technology, helicopters are widely regarded as being at least three times as expensive as turboprops. "If the economics don't make sense, it's not going to happen," says Helicopter Association International president Roy Resavage.
EHI is watching Sikorsky with interest, noting that its larger EH101 could serve as complementary replacements for some 30-35-seat commuter turboprop aircraft. The nearer-term potential is seen to be on shorter 280-315km (150-170nm) routes into congested major hub airports.
"We're looking at short segments in problem areas where the cost of congestion overrides the cost of using a helicopter in place of a turboprop," says EHI.
Source: Flight International
