NBAA, Las Vegas, Nevada - 

Sikorsky Aerospace Services (SAS) announced today that Associated Aircraft Group (AAG), headquartered in Wappingers Falls, N.Y., will provide comprehensive maintenance management, inspections and spare parts procurement for customers operating the new Sikorsky S-76D™ helicopter. Both SAS and AAG are part of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX)

During the National Business Aviation Association annual trade show in Las Vegas, SAS announced that AAG is the first domestic Customer Support Center for S-76D helicopters.

“AAG is the East Coast's premier executive helicopter company and largest services provider for Sikorsky’s S-76® helicopter platform. We are very pleased that the company has recently been approved as the first service center qualified to support fly-in hangar service for S-76D operators,” said John Johnson, President of Helicopter Support Inc., a Sikorsky Aerospace Services company. “Orders for these aircraft continue at a rapid pace, including many international customers. Our future plans include strategic worldwide customer support centers, ensuring that customers operating S-76D aircraft have full support service when needed.”

The S-76D helicopter is the latest in the family of popular S-76 helicopters and, as the quietest helicopter in its class, incorporates the next generation of safety, reliability and efficiency. More than 800 S-76 helicopters have been delivered to the global fleet since 1979. These aircraft have aggregated more than 6 million flight hours, which continues to increase daily.

“We are proud to be the first S-76D authorized service center, with full support capabilities for S-76D operators,” said Scott Ashton, AAG President. “As the largest operator of VIP S-76 helicopters, with over 40,000 safe flying hours in the aircraft, AAG uniquely understands both the scheduled and unscheduled maintenance support needs of our clients. We are looking forward to working closely with SAS to provide comprehensive support for S-76 operators.”

AAG has been providing executive travel for more than 20 years, providing helicopter and fixed wing charter flights, fractional ownership programs, aircraft management and helicopter maintenance services from its Teterboro, N.Y., Providence, R.I.., and Philadelphia. Pa., locations. With the Northeast’s largest fleet of S-76 aircraft, AAG is the only executive helicopter company to own and operate its own FAA Part 145 maintenance facility and is a Sikorsky Certified Repair Center.

SAS 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 support. 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 worldwide. For more information, visit www.sikorsky.com