On a conference call with reporters this morning, Sikorsky CEO Paul Lemmo vowed continued product support for the company’s line of S-76 medium twin-engine civil helicopters, even though the airframer has no plans “to be producing any more here in the [United] States.” Lemmo said there are no new developments with regard to a potential sale of the type certificate to an offshore OEM, despite persistent rumors that at least one company in India was interested.
“We continue to examine all other options with other partners and we'll see where that goes,” Lemmo said. “Obviously, we continue to support the aircraft. We've got a large number of customers out there and we're committed to supporting them.”
While declining to disclose whether the company had secured any orders for its proposed S-92A+ heavy helicopter, Lemmo said Sikorsky is having “some great discussions with several customers, but nothing to report yet.” The company shut down its Coatesville, Pennsylvania civil helicopter assembly plant last year and dispersed limited remaining production of export-market S-76s and S-92As to its other facilities. Sikorsky took the decision to end domestic production of the S-76 following an FAA mandate that all new-production helicopters be equipped with crash-resistant fuel systems.
During the first quarter of this year, the company delivered no S-76s and only one S-92A, according to data from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. GAMA data indicates that Sikorsky delivered no S-76s and just four S-92As in 2022.