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DATE:31/01/11
SOURCE:Flight International
Sikorsky S-92s to begin Afghanistan duty from February
By John Croft
Two Sikorsky S-92 heavy twin helicopters will begin performing passenger and cargo lift services in Afghanistan in February as part of an AAR Corporation contract.
AAR purchased the two 19-seat helicopters as part of a five-year, $450 million contract from the US transportation command, issued in October.
The company will use the S-92s to augment its current lift services using 15 S-61N Sea King helicopters.
The S-92s are configured for a mix a passenger and cargo, carrying as many as three 0.37m2 (4ft2) cargo pallets secured to rings in the seat tracks and cabin walls.
For each pallet, Sikorsky says it developed a "special fire containment cover to contain and suffocate flames, and added smoke detectors". Passengers will be separated from cargo by a fabric partition.
Sikorsky says it has delivered 129 S-92 helicopters to commercial customers in the oil and gas industry, search and rescue, VIP transport and utility sectors. since introduction of the type in 2004.
The fleet to date has accumulated 285,000 flight hours, a record for a commercial fleet of Sikorsky helicopters in a similar timeframe, says the company.
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