Billings Air Service has awarded a contract to Vector Aerospace Helicopter Services North America-Langley (Booth No. 2922) to complete a shortening modification on a Sikorsky S-61 helicopter.

It has been nearly 10 years since Vector Aerospace performed a modification of this type, which involves shortening the aircraft by approximately 48 inches. The announcement of this contract has since prompted other S-61 operators to “revisit modernization and available upgrades,” according to Elvis Moniz, Vector Aerospace-Langley’s director of operations.

A team will perform the modification at the Langley, B.C. facility, which specializes in helicopter structures and avionics repair, overhaul and upgrades.

The Langley facility also has the capability to support a variety of other helicopters, including the S-76 and Black Hawk, most Bell light and medium models, and the Eurocopter AS 350 and AS 355 models. The company also has a Rolls-Royce Model 250 engine repair facility in Dallas.