Graham Warwick/WEST PALM BEACH
SIKORSKY IS considering increasing production of its S-76, now running at 24 a year, to meet growing demand for the intermediate twin-turbine helicopter in corporate, utility and emerging naval markets. The company cites pent-up demand to replace corporate S-76As, interest from corporate and offshore operators in the new S-76C+, and the opening of Japanese public-service markets as reasons for optimism.
Director, commercial programmes, Mike Moran says that there has been a surge in orders from corporate operators for the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6B-powered S-76B. The company also expects increased sales of the up-rated Turbomeca Arriel 2-powered S-76C+, deliveries of which begin in March 1996. Moran says that the C+ offers similar single-engine performance to that of the B, but has one-third greater range.
Previously, the S-76B was preferred by corporate customers, because of its single engine performance, while the S-76C was preferred by utility operators, because of its greater range. The Arriel 2S1s in the C+ provide 18% more power than the Arriel 1S1s in the C.
Sikorsky is anticipating orders for the S-76C+ from offshore operators. New deep-water operations in the Gulf of Mexico require longer-range helicopters, Moran says, while North Sea operators face new European regulations requiring increased single-engine performance. He expects to receive the first C+ orders from North Sea operators during 1996.
Flight tests of the S-76C+ at Turbomeca in France have been completed, and the aircraft will be returned to West Palm Beach, Florida, in November, for further tests leading to US certification in March 1996 and European approval by mid-year.
Sikorsky will begin flight tests of a second-generation integrated instrument display system (IIDS) in December, leading to certification in the second quarter of 1996. The Parker Gull IIDS replaces 18 instruments with three liquid-crystal displays. Operators experienced reliability problems with the first-generation Rogerson Kratos IIDS.
Flight-testing of a health and usage monitoring system (HUMS), is also scheduled to get under way in December, leading to certification in the third quarter of 1996. The Sikorsky/GEC-Marconi HUMS is required by North Sea S-76 operators, he says.
Source: Flight International
