Sikorsky Aircraft last week selected Changhe Aircraft Industries Corp, a subsidiary of China Aviation Industry Corp II (Avic II), to build S-76C++ airframes in China. With the selection, Sikorsky now has two providers for the airframes, Changhe and Aero Vodochody in the Czech Republic.
Sikorsky officials say the first airframe will be delivered in 2009, with Changhe ultimately producing as many as 50% of the S-76 airframes on order as Sikorsky ramps production to handle an increasing backlog for helicopters.
Aero Vodochody has delivered close to 160 S-76 airframes since production there began in 2000. Sikorsky last month flew demonstration flights with an S-76 at the company's plant near Prague in an effort to boost the sales for the medium-twin aircraft in Europe.
With the agreement, Changhe is now a supplier for Sikorsky's three largest commercial helicopter programmes. The company also builds the tail pylons for the S-92A and signed a deal with Sikorsky in 2006 to build airframe components and assemblies for the Schweizer 300CBi, the first of which will be delivered in the fourth quarter this year, according to Sikorsky.
"This new agreement will strengthen our supplier base, add value for our customers, and enable us to maintain smooth production flow as we continue to see strong demand for the S-76 helicopter line, including the next- generation S-76D model now under development," says Carey Bond, Sikorsky vice-president for corporate strategy.
Source: Flight International
