Sikorsky has set aside six completed S-70 Black Hawk helicopters for sale to Venezuela, which has yet to conclude a purchase contract, while pursuing follow-on orders from Brazil, Columbia and Chile, and potential new sales in Ecuador and Peru.
Venezuela is trying to raise funding for the six machines - and possibly a follow-on order for another six - but approval has been delayed by the change in government earlier this year. "They have a requirement, we have the aircraft and we hope they'll come to a contract in the near term," says John Wakefield, Sikorsky's director international programmes.
The six helicopters for Venezuela are ready for delivery. "No one wants to wait 18 months for an aircraft," explains Wakefield, who adds that, should the deal fall through, the UH-60L-standard machines can be supplied "to the US Army or other international markets".
Sikorsky continues to pursue orders elsewhere in Latin America. The Brazilian army has plans for more S-70s to supplement five employed in the peacekeeping role on the Peru/Ecuador border, although this may be delayed by the country's financial problems.
The Argentine army has a requirement for a new utility helicopter to replace its Bell UH-1s, while the Chilean air force plans a follow-on purchase to the single helicopter delivered last year. Former protagonists Peru and Ecuador have stated requirements for new machines.
Sikorsky is projecting a combined Latin American requirement for a total of 40-50 S-70-sized helicopters over the next two to five years. The pace of these planned acquisitions, though, "will be driven very much by the economy", cautions Wakefield.
• Hong Kong is expected to decide by May on a shortlist of two differently sized replacement helicopters for its five Sikorsky S-76s and three S-70s.
The territory's Government Flying Service is looking for a larger size cabin than that in the S-70, and a machine that will not be subject to potential US Department of State controls.
Source: Flight International
