SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT’S X2 DEMONSTRATOR TEAM TO RECEIVE 2010 ROBERT J. COLLIER TROPHY

The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) announced at their Annual Spring Awards Luncheon that Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation and the X2 Demonstrator Team have been selected as the recipient of the 2010 Robert J. Collier Trophy, “for demonstrating a revolutionary 250 knot helicopter, which marks a proven departure point for the future development of helicopters by greatly increasing their speed, maneuverability and utility.”

“We had an excellent slate of nominations, covering an impressive and innovative list of aviation and aerospace accomplishments,” states Walter Boyne, Chairman of NAA and Chairman of the Selection Committee. “The Sikorsky team has developed an extremely impressive state-of-the-art prototype which we believe holds great promise for the future of the helicopter industry.”

 “We appreciate the vision of the Collier Selection Committee in awarding the 100th Collier Trophy to a helicopter in this age of supersonics, hypersonics, and space flight,” says Sikorsky’s Chris Van Buiten. “We are now approaching the milestone of 2 million lives saved by helicopters. The X2 technology will greatly expand the capability of helicopters to save lives and increase troop mobility.”

Other nominees for the 2010 Collier Trophy were:

• Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System

• Fighter Risk Reduction Program Team

• The Boeing Company C-17A Globemaster III Team

• General Aviation: Saving Thousands of Lives in Haiti

• MC-12W Project Liberty Team

• Orion Launch Abort System Development Team

• X-51A WaveRider Team

The Collier Trophy will be formally presented at the 100th Anniversary Robert J. Collier Trophy Dinner on Thursday, May 5, 2011, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia. For tickets or more information please visit www.naa.aero and click on Events/Events Calendar. For a complete list of previous recipients of the Collier Trophy, please visit the NAA website at www.naa.aero.

DART Helicopter Services Completes STC and Dealer Agreement with Flightcell® International, Ltd. for Helicopter Satellite Phone Installation Kit:

DART Helicopter Services and its subsidiary Geneva Aviation have completed an agreement with Flightcell® International, Ltd., that will enable commercial helicopter operators to install satellite telephone capabilities quickly and easily in rotorcraft.

DART and Geneva Aviation have pending Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for a Flightcell “Iridium” Satellite Phone System Installation Kit. The Geneva kit, which includes a lightweight phone cradle with or without the Flightcell DZM2 control panel, will be certified for installation in Eurocopter AS350 Ecureuil, AS355 Ecureuil 2 and Bell 206/407 helicopters. The system utilizes Iridium 9505/A or 9555 satellite phones (not included). Additional FAA certifications for other helicopters will be available in the future

The system consists of the satellite phone handset cradle, DZM2 control panel, and Geneva proprietary mounting hardware. The DZM2 control panel is a user-configurable two-way voice and data system that uses Iridium satellite and cellular modem links with flight tracking to enable continuous communication. The DZM2 integrates satellite phone transceivers into the helicopter intercom system to provide global voice communications to all ICS stations, GPS position tracking, data transmission, air to ground file transmission, basic e-mail, and SMS text to and from helicopters, and an optional two-wire connection for wire or cordless phone use in the rotorcraft cabin. In addition, the Iridium handset can be removed from the cradle for communication away from the rotorcraft.