The global fleet of 275 Sikorsky S-92 helicopters recently surpassed one million flight hours in less than 12 years. The first S-92 was delivered in 2004. While most of the fleet serves the offshore oil-and-gas industry, the S-92 is also used for civil search and rescue and 11 nations use it for head-of-state transport, a mission it will begin for the United States with the HMX“Marine One” fleet as VH-92A in 2020.
Working for oil and gas, the S-92 has an availability rate of better than 95 percent. It also has an accident rate that is less than one-tenth the U.S. civil multi-turbine engine helicopter rate.
This year the American Helicopter Society International honored the S-92 program with the Harry T. Jensen Award for its outstanding safety record. In 2002, the S-92 received the Robert J. Collier Trophy from the National Aeronautic Association. The award is given annually in recognition of improving the performance, efficiency and safety of air or space vehicles.