Sikorsky Aircraft and Milestone Aviation Group of Dublin, Ireland, announced jointly yesterday Milestone’s order for five Sikorsky S-76C++ helicopters, for delivery to Milestone in the second half of this year. Milestone (Booth No. 4042) plans to offer the new helicopters for lease to helicopter operators anywhere in the world.

“The S-76C++ is a great helicopter and a workhorse of the offshore oil and gas industry,” said Richard Santulli, chairman of Milestone Aviation.

Said Carey Bond, president of Sikorsky Global Helicopters, “By leasing out and providing 100 percent financing that ultimately allows end users to operate our aircraft, Milestone Aviation Group has quickly become an important customer for Sikorsky.”

Santulli was the founder and chairman of NetJets, the first and still the largest provider of fractional aircraft. He founded Milestone Aviation last August, after his resignation from NetJets in August 2009.