RIO NEGRO, Colombia - 

Sikorsky Aerospace Services (SAS) announced today that construction of a new UH-60 BLACK HAWK Helicopter Flight Simulator Training Center at the Colombian Air Force Base in Melgar is well under way and on schedule for completion this year. A premier training center for rotary wing aircraft, the facility will further improve the operational readiness of the Colombian Armed Services whose BLACK HAWK fleet ranks among the world’s largest. Sikorsky Aerospace Services is the aftermarket business of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

Based on the agreement reached last year with the Colombian Ministry of Defense, the facility will offer a full motion, high fidelity BLACK HAWK helicopter simulator to support pilot and flight crew training for the Colombian Armed Services and Sikorsky military customers throughout Latin America. The simulator is FAA Level D rated – the highest qualification currently available. Equipped with industry leading electric motion and control loading technology, it will offer a highly detailed cockpit replication of all controls and aircraft systems including wide-field outside-world visual systems. All components are mounted on six degree-of-freedom motion platforms that respond to pilot control movements and external aerodynamic factors.

“Colombia is a very important BLACK HAWK customer, and we are dedicated to furthering in-country aftermarket services. Earlier this year, we expanded our service platform to include a maintenance support team. And currently, we are advancing depot capabilities for crash and battle damaged aircraft. This training facility represents another major milestone toward our overall commitment to Sikorsky customers in Latin America,” said David Adler, SAS President.

The BLACK HAWK simulator will be housed in a special purpose facility currently under construction. Overseeing the project is Corporacion de la Industria Aeronautica de Colombia (CIAC), the acquisition arm of the Colombian Ministry of Defense. Scheduled to be fully operational by the last quarter of this year, the training center will be staffed with two experienced BLACK HAWK pilots serving as simulator operators and three maintenance personnel to maintain the simulator in optimum operational state.

Sikorsky Aerospace Services, a Sikorsky company, provides comprehensive support to rotary and fixed wing operators around the world. It offers its military and commercial customers a full portfolio of support services, including material distribution, maintenance, overhaul & repair, aircraft modifications and life-cycle. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Conn., USA, is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture and service. United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., USA, provides a broad range of high technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide.