Norwegian tour operator Aircontactgruppen AS has signed a letter of intent to acquire six Sikorsky S-92 helicopters. Deliveries are slated to begin in 2004. Aircontactgruppen intends to offer the 19-seat helicopters to commercial flight operations on operating leases.

Aircontactgruppen is the fourth company to reveal intention to buy S-92s-the others are Cougar Helicopters and Helijet of Canada, and Copter Action in Finland.

Sikorsky recently launched an extensive redesign of the S-92, which is now in flight testing leading to FAA certification. The changes include a lengthened fuselage to accommodate a larger door for search and rescue operations, a repositioned horizontal stabilizer for added stability, and a shortened tail pylon to offset the weight of the stretch.

By Paul Richfield