Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. has delivered two offshore utility helicopters to China Southern Airlines’ Zhuhai Helicopter Branch company, with a third delivery to occur next week, to support the offshore oil operations in the South China Sea by Zhuhai’s customers. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. Zhuhai Helicopter Branch is among the major helicopter operators supporting offshore oil operations and other market segments in China. Since 1984, the company has used Sikorsky helicopters to transport oil workers for such companies as China National Offshore Oil Corp., Chevron, and ExxonMobil. The delivery of the new aircraft brings the total of Sikorsky helicopters in the Zhuhai Helicopter Branch fleet to 16 aircraft: 13 S-76 and three S-92 helicopters. Zhuhai Helicopter Branch operates the largest S-76 helicopter fleet in China and Asia, and was the first operator in China to purchase a commercial helicopter from Sikorsky.
“Sikorsky Aircraft is proud to see the rapid growth of Zhuhai, and to have such a loyal customer operating an exclusive Sikorsky fleet for so many years. The mutual trust and support that our two companies have developed have contributed to a better understanding in the region of Sikorsky products as well as the training and maintenance capabilities we offer,” said Shane Eddy, Vice President, Global Supply Chain. “Together, our joint efforts are on a path to contribute in a significant way to the future development of the South Sea China offshore oil industry, and Sikorsky is proud to play a role in that potential success.”
Zhuhai took delivery of its new helicopters in September and December. The aircraft have been put into service and are operating out of the Guangdong province in China.