Sikorsky Aircraft’s newest civil helicopter–the S-76D–achieved approval for operations in Europe from EASA on February 25, Sikorsky announced at Heli-Expo 2015. The FAA had granted the type certificate for this latest S-76 variant in October 2012. More than 800 S-76s have been delivered globally since 1979.

“The S-76D already has seen great success in offshore and VIP operations in Trinidad and Tobago, Korea and China, and has entered into search-and-rescue service with the Japan Coast Guard,” said Sikorsky Commercial Systems & Services president Shane Eddy. “We have high expectations for the aircraft’s acceptance, performance and importance to our European customers.”

The aircraft destined for the Japan Coast Guard was delivered to Mitsubishi in July last year and became the first S-76D configured for SAR and to enter service in Japan. Sikorsky and Mitsubishi have contracted for 11 of the model for the Japan Coast Guard.

Delivery of the first S-76D was to the Bristow Group in December 2013.

There’s an App for That!

Sikorsky Aircraft also announced the expansion of the iFly Sikorsky iPad application to include the S-76D. The app replicates common performance calculations outlined in helicopter model-specific flight manuals, allowing the user to configure an aircraft, evaluate its weight-and-balance and conduct common performance calculations.

The app for the S-76D is expected to become available through the Apple App store in April to customers who have a publications subscription via the website for Sikorsky 360 support services. The purchase of an S-76D includes three years of publications subscription service.

The company introduced the first iFly Sikorsky app last year for the S-92. There are now more than 350 users of the app.

Sikorsky Innovations, a technology development organization within Sikorsky Aircraft, developed the app as part of a three-pillared approach to creating new technologies in the areas of speed, autonomy and intelligence.

Separately, Sikorsky announced that an S-76D would embark on an international demonstration tour starting next week in Southeast Asia. Events are planned in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.