Sikorsky completes S-92 for Irish Coast Guard

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Sikorsky S-92 will replace an S-61 based at Shannon

Sikorsky S92Sikorsky has completed production of an S-92 helicopter
for operation by CHC Helicopter on behalf of the Irish Coast Guard. The
helicopter will provide coverage for deep Atlantic Ocean missions, service Ireland’s offshore islands and provide rescue
cover from Cork to Galway
on the country’s west coast. Based at Shannon,
the new aircraft will replace the current Coast Guard SAR helicopter, a
Sikorsky S-61 helicopter.

Sikorsky and CHC formalised the purchase in the presence of Chris Reynolds,
Irish Coast Guard director, during a hand-over ceremony at Sikorsky’s S-92
commercial helicopter assembly facility in Coatesville.

“We selected CHC and the Sikorsky S-92 as our preferred combination after an
intense tender and selection process, and I am very happy that the Coast Guard
will operate what I consider to be the leading SAR helicopter in the world,”
said Reynolds.

Specified by the Irish Coast Guard, the S-92 helicopter is the first to be
purchased by CHC for SAR operations in Ireland. CHC will utilise four
additional S-92 SAR aircraft which will become operational out of Sligo, Waterford and Dublin
airports over time.

CHC currently provides 24/7 search and rescue helicopter service for the
Irish Coast Guard using six S-61 SAR helicopters based at Dublin, Shannon,
Waterford and Sligo.

CHC Regional Director Nick Mair said this was a very proud day for CHC in Ireland, adding
that the dedicated team of professional men and women on the Irish Coast Guard
helicopter service has worked hard to bring this key milestone in the delivery
program to pass.

The aircraft accepted is the 33rd S-92 helicopter CHC has
purchased from Sikorsky Aircraft since 2004 and the fifth dedicated SAR
aircraft. CHC also operates four S-92 SAR aircraft in Scotland under contract to Britain’s
Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

“We are honored by the combined confidence the Irish Coast Guard and CHC
have in the S-92 helicopter as the platform of choice to save lives,” said Ed
Beyer, vice president for Sikorsky Global Helicopters. “We remain committed to
building the world’s most reliable and capable search and rescue helicopter.”

Sikorsky has delivered 151 S-92 aircraft to operators worldwide since 2004.
Of those aircraft, 25 are engaged in SAR operations.

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