HELI-EXPO, Las Vegas, Nevada - 

Sikorsky Aircraft and FlightSafety International have jointly announced the development of eight Level-D full flight simulators for Sikorsky’s S-92®, S-76® and S-70i™ helicopter platforms. Currently in production, the simulators will expand access to OEM approved comprehensive aircraft training to Sikorsky customers in the USA, Brazil, Norway and South East Asia. Sikorsky Aerospace Services (SAS), the company’s aftermarket business, implements and manages all training programs for Sikorsky’s military and commercial platforms. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

“FlightSafety is a company whose name is synonymous with aerospace excellence and shares Sikorsky's commitment to safety. Our close working relationship ensures that operators benefit from the most up to date, OEM approved and FAA certified comprehensive training available today,” said David Adler, SAS President. “We are consolidating our military training (based initially on the BLACK HAWK platform) at our Sikorsky Training Academy in Oklahoma – scheduled to launch in September. In parallel, we will provide our commercial customers greater access to best in class simulator training at existing and new FlightSafety training centers around the world.”

Based on the agreement, eight new state of the art full flight simulators are being manufactured by FlightSafety. These simulators feature FlightSafety’s latest advances in aircraft fidelity technology which – coupled with OEM aircraft flight and control models – replicate the exact aircraft flight characteristics. The units are also equipped with FlightSafety’s 60” electric motion and control loading technology, and a proprietary rigid mirror display system. The simulators are designed to reduce maintenance requirements, improve reliability and maximize availability.

“FlightSafety will be opening Helicopter Learning Centers in Brazil, Norway and South East Asia to meet the increasing needs of our current and prospective customers. These will complement the training we already offer Sikorsky customers in Florida, Louisiana and the UK. We are committed to providing the highest quality training at conveniently located facilities,” said Bruce Whitman, FlightSafety President and CEO. “Proud to have served as the factory authorized training provider for Sikorsky since 1983, we greatly value the opportunity to support the increasing number of commercial, government, and military organizations worldwide that operate Sikorsky helicopters.”

FlightSafety International is the world’s premier professional aviation training company and supplier of flight simulators, visual systems, and displays, to commercial, government and military organizations. The company provides more than a million hours of training each year to pilots, technicians and other aviation professionals from 154 countries and independent territories. FlightSafety operates the world’s largest fleet of advanced full flight simulators at Learning Centers and training locations in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Japan, South Africa, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

Sikorsky based in Stratford, Conn., is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture and service. Its SAS business designs and applies advanced logistics and supply chain solutions for commercial rotary, military rotary and fixed wing operators. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., provides a broad range of high technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide.