New S-92 center of excellence to open in Rio de Janeiro
The center is intended to support growing demand for services for the Sikorsky S-92 helicopter, such as rescue and recovery
Sikorsky, Heli-One, and Milestone Aviation have announced plans to establish a center of excellence in Brazil for the S-92 helicopter.
The center will be based in the city of Rio de Janeiro, and will be led by Heli-One, the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) subsidiary of CHC Helicopter Group.
The aim of the partnership is to leverage the combined expertise of all three companies to offer comprehensive support services and embedded maintenance capabilities to S-92 operators in Brazil and other South American countries.
The establishment of the center is currently subject to internal approvals from the three companies involved, with more details due to be published in the coming months.
The three companies are already exploring options to expand the center with new support provisions, potentially including:
- Access to a comprehensive inventory of critical supplies and parts, including gearboxes, blades, and dampers
- Scheduled maintenance inspections, repair and overhauls
- Improved supply chain management and logistics.
Responding to a growing commercial market
“The time is right for establishing an S-92 center of excellence in Brazil, as more and more customers select the aircraft for their operations – including for rescue and recovery” said Tom Burke, President and CEO at CHC Helicopter Group. “By utilizing the knowledge of our Heli-One division and working together with Sikorsky and Milestone, we will be able to offer more integrated and efficient support services and maximize availability for the growing S-92 fleet in region.”
Pat Sheedy, President and CEO of Milestone added: “This initiative is a testament to our commitment to supporting the growth of the commercial aviation market in Brazil. By combining our expertise with that of Sikorsky and Heli-One, we will be able to provide a more robust and reliable service to our customers, ultimately enhancing the availability and efficiency of their operations.”
Helibras recently delivered two Airbus H145s to the Military Fire Department of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais.