STRATFORD, Conn., Nov. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Colombia's civil aviation authority Unidad
Administrativa Especial de Aeronáutica Civil (UAEAC) has approved
the Offshore and Utility Type Certificate for Sikorsky's S-76C™
series (C, C+, C++), S-76D™ and S-92A® helicopters. The certificate
enables Colombia's commercial
aviation operators to add the multi-role helicopters for
transportation of workers or cargo to offshore oil and gas rigs, as
well as regional airline passenger service, and VIP
transportation.
UAEAC signed the certificate Nov.
9, capping an intensive flight test program to introduce the
commercial aircraft manufactured by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin
Company (NYSE: LMT), to Colombia.
"The approval by UAEAC authorizing transportation companies
across Colombia to operate the
S-76D and S-76C medium helicopters and heavy lift S-92 in
Colombia is an exciting
development," said Dana Fiatarone,
vice president, Sikorsky Commercial Systems & Services. "These
multi-role aircraft will provide profitable, high reliability
flight operations to local operators."
"Colombians know the robustness, reliability and industry
leading safety record of Sikorsky products thanks to the history of
Black Hawks in Colombia, where
more than 100 have operated for over 20 years," said Adam Schierholz, Sikorsky Regional Executive for
Latin America. "As Colombia moves
to a peacetime footing, with infrastructure development and oil
exploration as priorities, it is a natural progression to have
Sikorsky commercial products introduced to the country."
In Colombia, Sikorsky maintains
training and support facilities in Melgar that employ more than 40
Colombian national employees. These facilities operate as
Sikorsky's regional hub for support in Latin America.
Sikorsky has delivered more than 800 S-76 helicopters to
customers globally since 1979. More than four million of the
fleet's nearly seven million total flight hours have been flown in
support of offshore oil transportation, and the aircraft boasts low
operating costs and an accident rate that is half that of the
industry's average.
Sikorsky has delivered nearly 300 S-92 helicopters since 2004.
With a best-in-class safety record, the multi-mission S-92 aircraft
is the preferred aircraft of its size class for offshore oil worker
transportation. These helicopters perform search and rescue
missions, head of state missions, and a variety of transportation
missions for utility and airline passengers.
For more information visit Sikorsky Commercial Systems &
Services
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a
global security and aerospace company that employs approximately
98,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research,
design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of
advanced technology systems, products and services.
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SOURCE Lockheed Martin