SAO JOSE DOS CAMPOS, Brazil,
Feb. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/
-- Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. and the Brazilian Instituto
Tecnologico de Aeronautica (ITA) today celebrated the launch of the
Collaboration for Rotorcraft Innovation to accelerate the
development of rotorcraft technologists in Brazil. The initiative aims to increase
undergraduate exposure to rotorcraft principles as part of a
well-rounded aerospace engineering education in a country whose
military already flies both BLACK HAWK and SEAHAWK®
helicopters. Sikorsky Aircraft is a subsidiary of United
Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).
![Sikorsky Vice President Chris Van Buiten (right) and ITA Vice Dean Fernando Sakane shake hands to seal the new collaboration with ITA. Antonio Pugas, Sikorsky Regional Sale Executive for Latin America looks on. Sikorsky Vice President Chris Van Buiten (right) and ITA Vice Dean Fernando Sakane shake hands to seal the new collaboration with ITA. Antonio Pugas, Sikorsky Regional Sale Executive for Latin America looks on.](https://photos.prnewswire.com/prnvar/20150212/175182)
ITA, ranking as one of the top engineering universities in
Brazil, is a federal government
institution dedicated to providing high-level education and
research in the fields of aerospace, science and technology. As one
of the institutes that encompass the Brazilian General Command for
Aerospace Technology (DCTA), ITA is uniquely positioned in the
training of both military and civilian members of the Brazilian
aerospace community.
"Whether for commercial transport, offshore oil operations, or
military missions, Sikorsky helicopters have been an integral part
of the Brazilian aviation landscape and a symbol of its leading
role in rotary wing operations," said Antonio Pugas, Sikorsky's Regional Executive for
Latin America. "The demand for
in-country rotary wing assets continues to grow with the delivery
of new, advanced helicopter systems to Brazil's armed forces. Sikorsky is pleased to
be collaborating with this recognized leader in academia to provide
them with a strong background in rotorcraft design."
As part of the collaboration, ITA will use Sikorsky funds to
augment its robust aerospace engineering program to provide
additional curriculum related to rotorcraft, experienced staff to
instruct this new material, and sponsored scholarships for student
research related to rotorcraft. The new curriculum will be
available beginning with the coming Fall semester. A Rotorcraft
Innovation Lab, sponsored by Sikorsky, will include a fixed-base
flight simulator and other equipment to facilitate this teaching
and research, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2015.
Sikorsky will provide on campus visiting mentors to assist with
these classes and the associated research.
"It has been our ongoing mission at ITA to develop the next
generation of aerospace engineers, and to grow our program to
include rotorcraft design," said ITA Vice Dean Fernando Toshinori
Sakane. "We are thrilled to move forward in working with Sikorsky,
one of the world's leading helicopter companies, to educate our
outstanding engineering students, and to contribute to the exciting
new developments in vertical flight technologies."
"As the technology development organization of Sikorsky
Aircraft, Sikorsky Innovations has attracted some of the most
prestigious aerospace and academic organizations in the world to
join us as we tackle the toughest challenges in vertical flight and
inject incredible new technologies into the industry," said
Chris Van Buiten, Vice President of
Sikorsky Innovations. "Today, ITA becomes the newest valuable
member of our network, as together we chart the path for inspiring
and developing the next generation of engineers who will rewrite
the future of rotorcraft."
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Connecticut, USA, is a world leader
in helicopter design, manufacture, and service. United Technologies
Corp., based in Hartford,
Connecticut, USA, provides high technology products and
support services to the aerospace and building systems
industries.
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SOURCE Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.