Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. is to deliver a new S-92 helicopter to China Southern Airlines’ Zhuhai Helicopter Branch next week. This follows the delivery of two S-76s in December last year. The offshore utility aircraft will support expanding oil operations in the South China Sea.

Zhuhai Helicopter Branch is among the major helicopter operators servicing oil operations and other market segments in China. The company has used Sikorsky products since 1984 to transport oil workers for such companies as China National Offshore Oil, Chevron and ExxonMobil. Zhuhai is the largest operator of the types in Asia, and provides maritime helicopter services for domestic and international oil companies in the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, East China Sea and South China Sea. The addition of the new helicopter brings the company’s Sikorsky fleet to 16, comprising 13 S-76s and three S-92s.

“The mutual trust and support that our two companies have developed have contributed to a better understanding in the region of Sikorsky products as well as the training and maintenance capabilities we offer,” said Sikorsky vice president Shane Eddy.

In 2010 Sikorsky delivered nine new S-76 and S-92 helicopters to China, the most ever in a single year for China, including two S-76C++ search-and-rescue (SAR) helicopters to the Ministry of Transport, China Rescue and Salvage helicopters, and two S-76C++ to Eastern General Aviation Co.

To service the growing fleet later this year Canadian flight training services provider CAE will deploy a S-76C++ 3000 Series full-motion helicopter flight simulator at Zhuhai Flight Training Centre, a joint venture it operates alongside China Southern Airlines. The facility is CAE’s first civil helicopter training center in China.