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April 2005 TM
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Second Norsk S-92 Enters Revenue Service Rapid Response Team Ensures
in the North Sea Quick Timely Response
Norsk Helikopter, the first European off-shore oil S-92 customer, Sikorsky’s Rapid Response Team (RRT) ensures quick, timely
entered a second S-92 into revenue service in the North Sea earlier and efficient service to the commercial customer in the event an
this month. The aircraft is being used by Statoil to perform crew emergency situation should arise. The response teams provide
change missions throughout the North Sea. The operation of the customers the support, and responsiveness of a team of engineers
aircraft is by Norsk Helikopter. specifically assembled to address and resolve emergency
Both of the Norsk’s new S-92 helicopters replace two AS332 Super situations. RRT members have the detail knowledge and expertise
Pumas. of the S-92 systems and muster based on the situation at hand.
This concept ensures that our customers reach a solution in a
Sikorsky anticipates more S-92 helicopters to begin offshore
timely manner. In addition, RRT members travel to the operator’s
operations in the North Sea later this year
site and remain on site until the situation is resolved.
An RRT immediately sprung into action after Norsk Helikopter in
Norway made a precautionary landing of an S-92. The notification
from Norsk was received early on a Thursday morning (7:00 am
EST), and a Rapid Response Team was immediately assembled.
The team assessed the situation - a drop in MGB oil pressure
- and quickly developed possible solutions. By Thursday afternoon
replacement parts were picked up and an RRT specialist was on a
plane to Norway. By Friday he was on the rig where the S-92 had
landed. The inspection and repair of the aircraft began right away
and within a few hours the S-92 was repaired, tested and flown
back to the maintenance base in Bergen.
The RRT specialist remained in Norway to continue to monitor
and inspect the aircraft as well as to address any questions. The
inspection and testing of a second S-92 at the base was also
conducted.
“It is most important to us that we know Sikorsky is able to launch
Bruce McKinney to Lead S-76D specialists in short notice to help and support us in our operations.
This rapid response service strengthens the picture of an excellent
Development Program product with a strong and supportive manufacturer behind it,” said
Sikorsky is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Bruce Dag Satre, technical director for Norsk
McKinney as Program Manager for the S-76D. Mr. McKinney will be Since this time, both of Norsk’s S-92s have been in full operation
responsible for the management of a major development program and are averaging eight flying-hours each per day, Monday through
that will deliver the S-76D to the market by 2008. He will lead an Friday.
internal and external team that will be responsible for introducing
As part of the RRT initiative an Alert System Bulletin was distributed
the new composite main rotor blade, new quiet tail rotor, integral
to all S-92 operators to replace the vespel spline, the cause of
rotor ice protection system, new state-of-the-art avionics suite,
the loss of pressure, and to inspect at every fifty-hour intervals
new design PW210 engine and a new look that will distinguish the
thereafter.
S-76D from older models.
The RRT specialist returned to Sikorsky’s main campus in Stratford,
Mr. McKinney has been with Sikorsky for 22 years. His technical
CT with the parts from the incident. The RRT team continues to
background, previous program management experience and
analyze and assess the situation to determine and address the root
customer focus make him uniquely qualified to lead the S-76D
cause of the incident and to prevent it from happening again.
program.