STRATFORD, Conn., 5 Nov. 2012. Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX), is opening a new office in Bogota, Colombia, and a Black Hawk helicopter training center in Melgar, Colombia.
"Colombia is a longtime strategic customer and valued partner," says Mick Maurer, president, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. "Our continued investments in support services exemplify Sikorsky's solid commitment to enhance the Ministry of Defense and the Colombian Armed Forces' fleet availability and operational readiness. We remain dedicated to providing strong support directly where our customers operate."
The new office will employ 10 people, expand Sikorsky’s support of the Colombia Armed Forces Black Hawk helicopter fleet, and provide the Colombian Ministry of Defense with a central contact aftermarket support, program management, and administrative requirements.
Colombia operates nearly 100 Black Hawk helicopters, which perform a variety of missions, such as search and rescue, medical evacuation, disaster relief, and anti-drug and counter-insurgency operations.
"We understand the importance of the Colombian Armed Services' need to maintain their fleet at optimal mission readiness. Our goal is to provide the needed OEM support expertise and capabilities directly where our customers operate," says Frank DiPasquale, vice president, sales and strategic relationships, Sikorsky Aerospace Services, Sikorsky's aftermarket business overseeing the efforts in Colombia.
Sikorsky’s Black Hawk helicopter training facility, scheduled to open in Melgar in early 2013, will be South America's first Black Hawk flight training center and feature the region's only full-motion, high-fidelity, FAA Level D Equivalent Black Hawk simulator, says a company representative. The center will provide pilot and flight crew training for the Colombian Armed Services and Sikorsky military customers throughout Latin America.
Sikorsky Aerospace Services, the aftermarket business of Sikorsky Aircraft, operates a Service Depot in Tolemaida, Colombia.
