PHI Achieves 30K Fleet Hour Milestone With Sikorsky S-92(R) Helicopters

STRATFORD, Conn., Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- PHI has reached the 30,000 fleet hour milestone with its Sikorsky S-92(R) helicopters, Sikorsky Aircraft announced. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX)

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PHI achieved the milestone late Thursday, Oct. 9. PHI's S-92 helicopter fleet had reached the 20,000 milestone Nov. 20, 2007.

PHI, a pioneer in deepwater helicopter operations, introduced the operation of the S-92 helicopter to the energy industry in the Gulf of Mexico. Since the 1950s, Louisiana-based PHI has flown Sikorsky helicopters, offering services to the offshore oil and gas, onshore mining, international, air medical and technical services industries. Sikorsky delivered the first two production S-92 helicopters to PHI in late 2004 and currently operates 10 S-92 aircraft.

"Once again, Sikorsky and PHI have cause to remark upon the steady success of this relationship, as seen through the continuing record of fine work by the S-92 helicopter," said Sikorsky Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer Stephen B. Estill. "We celebrate this latest fleet hour milestone together."

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Conn., is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture and service. The company's mission statement reflects its long commitment to safety and innovation: "We pioneer flight solutions that bring people home everywhere ... every time(TM)." United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., provides a broad range of high technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries.

PHI provides helicopter transportation and related services to a broad range of customers including the oil and gas industry, air medical industry and also provides third-party maintenance services to select customers.