NEW YORK, New York - Associated Aircraft Group (AAG), the nation’s premier executive helicopter company, has again passed the industry’s most rigorous safety audit and retained its designation as a Wyvern Standard approved helicopter operator. The safety audit was completed in October. AAG is a subsidiary of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., which is part of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX).

Wyvern has been the global leader in aviation safety auditing since 1991, conducting the helicopter industry’s most stringent safety audits for corporate flight departments, fractional operators and charter helicopter companies. Wyvern Standard Operators like AAG adhere to safety practices that far exceed government regulations for safe flight.

“By being audited against The Wyvern Standard, an operator can prove to their client base that they adhere to a stricter safety practice and provide tangible evidence that each flight is safe through a Wyvern Pass Report,” according to Wyvern.

“Through its more than two decades of operation, AAG has demonstrated an unparalleled passion for safety and service; it’s at the heart of our culture,” said AAG President Scott Ashton. “We’re very pleased to again earn the industry’s recognition for providing AAG travelers with the industry’s very highest safety practices.”

AAG has more than 20 years of experience providing helicopter and fixed wing charter flights, fractional ownership and helicopter maintenance services from its New York and Philadelphia installations. It is the only executive helicopter company to own and operate its own Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 145 maintenance facility and is a Sikorsky Certified Repair Center. AAG has the Northeast’s largest fleet of S-76 executive aircraft. The company’s principal flight operations and repair services are housed in more than 100,000 square feet of hangar space at the Dutchess County Airport, a short flight from its Manhattan heliports.

The company recently announced the addition of Eclipse Jet charter service to provide AAG clients with both fixed and rotary wing options to precisely service their travel needs and to expand the company’s service area by 1,125 nautical miles from metro New York. The jet flies at a maximum speed of 430 miles-per-hour with a ceiling of 41,000 feet. The Eclipse utilizes state-of-the-art avionics and can access more than 6,000 airports across the country.

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Conn., is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture, and service. United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., provides a broad range of high-technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries.