GENEVA and BERLIN, May 20,
2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. today
announced the certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency
(EASA) of enhanced functionality for the S-92® helicopter. The
announcement was made at both the European Business Aviation
Convention & Exhibit (EBACE) in Geneva, Switzerland, and at the ILA
Berlin exhibition in Germany. Sikorsky Aircraft is a subsidiary of
United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).
The newly certified software update to the Avionics Management
System (AMS), version 8.0, provides display enhancements to
existing functionality to support several important S-92 mission
capabilities, including CAT A Takeoff, enhanced Search and Rescue
patterns, and Rig Approach, a first of its kind functionality on
the S-92 helicopter that provides operators with an automated
approach to offshore rig and platform landings. The update
also provides a growth path to game-changing new safety
enhancements in the S-92 cockpit, such as fully integrated Traffic
Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) II and Automatic Dependent
Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out.
ADS-B Out is the next generation of air traffic control safety
equipment. The functionality provides aircraft and air traffic
controllers with real-time, satellite-based position and heading
data, and will replace current radar-based systems. The system has
been certified for the S-92 helicopter by the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), National Civil Aviation Agency of
Brazil and now the European
Aviation Safety Agency.
"The S-92 helicopter has earned a reputation as a safe and very
rugged aircraft able to operate in demanding environments.
These enhancements increase mission capability and situational
awareness for operators," said Audrey
Brady, director, S-92 programs. "We are proud ADS-B Out will
start operating in Europe later
this year."
The S-92 helicopter leads the way as the most compliant aircraft
in its class with the FAA and European airworthiness safety
standards, and meets or exceeds oil and gas industry
requirements. These helicopters perform search and rescue
(SAR) missions, head of state missions, as well as a variety of
transportation missions for offshore oil and gas crews, utility and
airline passengers. The U.S. Navy recently selected Sikorsky
to build a fleet of 'Marine One' helicopters based on the
FAA-certified S-92 aircraft to transport the Office of the
President beginning in the early 2020s.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Connecticut, is a world leader in
aircraft design, manufacture and service. United Technologies
Corp., based in Hartford,
Connecticut, provides a broad range of high-technology
products and support services to the aerospace and building systems
industries.
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SOURCE Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.