Sikorsky Secures Sale of S-76D VIP Helicopter to India’s Maharashtra State

Sikorsky has announced the sale of S-76D VIP helicopter to the government of Maharashtra in India.

The announcement came during the Farnborough International Airshow. This contract marks the first sale of an S-76D helicopter in India. Delivery is scheduled in 2019, the company said in a statement Monday.

"The S-76D helicopter introduction has been quite successful in the Indo-Pacific region, with more than 30 aircraft sold and delivered in the last five years," said Christophe Nurit, Sikorsky's Regional Executive for Asia. "The aircraft has been selected for multiple mission requirements ranging from Naval and Coast Guard operations to Executive Transport."

S-76D helicopter VIP options include a customized interior with seating for five to eight passengers. Uniquely, the S-76D helicopter can hold its rotor system still while running an engine to power the on-board air-conditioning system for safe, comfortable loading and unloading into the pre-cooled cabin during the summer season and hot climates.