Brazil launches S-92 helicopter center of excellence

Cabo Frio, Brazil — Heli-One has opened the first Sikorsky-authorized S-92 customer support center in Brazil, establishing a regional hub in Cabo Frio to perform scheduled and unscheduled maintenance on S-92 helicopters. The facility is intended as a foundational element of a broader S-92 Center of Excellence that will add parts provisioning and overhaul and repair capabilities.

The move expands Heli-One’s global support network as the company invests in regional infrastructure and strengthens partnerships with original equipment manufacturers and suppliers. Heli-One said the goal is to deliver faster turnaround times and more integrated maintenance solutions for civil, public service and military operators.

The Cabo Frio Center of Excellence is backed by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, and Milestone Aviation, an AerCap company. Milestone owns 17 of the approximately 40 S-92 aircraft operating in South America. The S-92, designated a heavy-lift aircraft, accommodates 19 passengers and has a 200-nautical-mile radius.

“We are proud to bring Heli-One’s specialist MRO capabilities to Brazil with the opening of this new customer support center. This investment will significantly improve maintenance turnaround times and parts provisioning for S-92 operators across Brazil and the wider South American region, helping keep critical missions flying with greater reliability and efficiency. Operators will also benefit from the depth of experience within Heli-One’s highly skilled workforce, which has supported Sikorsky products for decades across our operations in Norway, Canada and Poland. By bringing together that global expertise and applying the lessons learned from our established S-92 capabilities in those markets, we are building the foundation for Cabo Frio to become a leading regional Center of Excellence for the S-92 platform,” said Kevin Spengler, Heli-One president.

“As the energy industry extends platforms farther out to sea, and demand for offshore transport grows, it is essential that S-92 operators receive skilled and dedicated support services close to their home base of operations,” added Leon Silva, Vice President of Sikorsky’s Global Commercial and Advanced Programs. “The investment our three companies collectively are planning for the Center of Excellence in Cabo Frio will enable us to stock more helicopter parts in Brazil, train workers with the advanced skills to repair parts locally, and meet our goal to increase flight availability for operators.”

“As a leading lessor of the S-92 and a long-term partner to operators across South America, Milestone is proud to support the development of Sikorsky and Heli-One’s Center of Excellence in Cabo Frio. With almost half of the region’s S-92 fleet under our ownership, we see first-hand the aircraft’s proven performance and reliability, alongside the critical importance of strong, locally based support infrastructure following many years of demanding offshore energy operations. This investment will further enhance aircraft availability, reduce downtime, and strengthen the resilience of offshore transport as activity continues to expand. We are pleased to work alongside our partners, Heli-One and Sikorsky, to deliver world-class, dedicated support services closer to our customers,” said Pat Sheedy, president and CEO of Milestone.

The Cabo Frio site is the first S-92 customer support center in South America and the ninth globally. It comes as Sikorsky moves to increase supply of the type. In March, the manufacturer announced a new U.S. production line for the S-92A to meet current and expected demand. Of the 275 S-92 helicopters in operation worldwide, a majority transport crews to offshore oil and gas rigs. Coast guard operators also fly the aircraft for search and rescue, and 13 countries use it to carry heads of state.

By 2028, Sikorsky expects capacity to produce 12 S-92A+ aircraft annually. The latest variant features a new main gearbox with a minimum of 6,000 flight hours between overhauls. Added engine power and a strengthened airframe raise maximum gross weight to 27,700 pounds, providing an additional 1,200 pounds of payload or fuel.

Heli-One operates MRO facilities in Richmond and Delta, Canada; Stavanger, Norway; Rzeszow, Poland; and Cabo Frio, Brazil. The company is an independent helicopter MRO with certifications and expertise across airframes and components from Leonardo, Airbus, Sikorsky, Bell, Safran Helicopter Engines and General Electric. Heli-One is a segment of CHC Helicopter, the operating company of CHC Group Ltd.

Milestone Aviation Group, an AerCap company, provides helicopter leasing and financing to approximately 50 customers in about 35 countries, serving industries including offshore oil and gas, search and rescue, emergency medical services, police surveillance, mining, firefighting and other utility missions.