S-92 READY FOR OPS

Sikorsky Aircraft's S-92 helicopter is poised to enter the marketplace early next year, but more importantly for the company, it is in the right place at the right time to be a contender in the next competition for a helicopter to meet presidential travel requirements.

The right time for the medium-lift helicopter has been delayed over the years from 1992, when it was conceived. However, the S-92 evolved from its initial design to a more capable machine when it was launched at the Paris air show in 1995. The prediction at that time was for certification in early 2000. Up until 1998, certification was planned for the third quarter of 2000.

Even in 2000, after first flight of the S-92 in December 1998, FAA certification was planned for 2001 with deliveries to begin in April 2002. At about the same time, Sikorsky was not having much luck winning competitions from Canada, Sweden and elsewhere in Europe for military versions of the S-92, and faced similar disinterest from the civil market, so it initiated a design change.

The S-92's cabin length was increased to accommodate a larger side door and the tail rotor pylon was reduced in length. These modifications provided for a flatter hover attitude, thus improving visibility during operations in confined spaces as well as offering better bird protection. The Connecticut-based company achieved FAA approval for the S-92 in December 2002 and initial deliveries of the S-92 are now slated to begin in early 2004. There are some operational points missing from the original certification, such as natural icing, which are scheduled for completion prior to delivery of the first production helicopter.