Nov. 15--A Chinese company that serves the oil industry has announced a deal to purchase two S-92 helicopters from Sikorsky Aircraft.
Terms of the deal between Sikorsky and the Zhuhai Helicopter Co. were not announced.
Sikorsky, which is headquartered in Stratford, will deliver the two helicopters in 2013.
The deal will give ZHC the largest commercial fleet of Sikorsky aircraft with five S-92 helicopters and 12 S-76 models, according to Sikorsky officials. This is the fourth time in the last five years that ZHC has purchased helicopters from Sikorsky.
"Zhuhai Helicopter Company is experiencing continued growth," Rong Weiguo, acting president of the company, said in a written statement. "As the oldest operator of Sikorsky helicopters in China, Zhuhai looks forward to the opportunities to further develop its relationship with Sikorsky in the future."
Ed Beyer, vice president of Sikorsky Global Helicopters, said the company appreciates ZHC's "unfailing loyalty to our products and service."
"We look forward to expanding this cooperation to aircraft maintenance service, personnel training, and material distribution," Beyer said in a written statement.
China is Sikorsky's fastest-growing market in the world, according to company officials. Currently, there are 31 S-76 and four of the S-92 helicopters of various configurations in use in China.
Sikorsky is a subsidiary of Hartford-based United Technologies Corp.
Call Luther Turmelle at 203-789-5706 or follow him on Twitter @LutherTurmelle.
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