FARNBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL AIR SHOW, July 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bristow Group Inc. (NYSE: BRS) has exercised options on its existing sales agreement with Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. for three S-92(R) helicopters and six S-76C++(TM) helicopters, Sikorsky Aircraft announced today from the Farnborough International Air Show. Sikorsky is a business unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

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Bristow, a longtime Sikorsky Aircraft customer, also added options to purchase eight additional S-92 helicopters. Bristow will use the new S-92 and S-76C++ helicopters to fulfill offshore transportation requirements in various parts of the world.

"These option conversions clearly represent the faith in Sikorsky's commercial products and its support of those products," said Sikorsky President Jeffrey P. Pino. "Sikorsky's relationship with the Bristow Group spans fifty years, and we look forward to continuing our close relationship with Bristow for many years to come."

Mark Duncan, Bristow Senior Vice President, Western Hemisphere, said, "Bristow's longstanding relationship with Sikorsky, including the original 2005 multi-year contracts to purchase S-76's and S-92's, have been instrumental in allowing us to meet the increased opportunities presented to us by our customers. We value our working relationship with Sikorsky and appreciate the flexibility afforded us."

The S-92 is the first helicopter in the world certified to the latest U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and European Joint airworthiness safety standards. The S-92 helicopter features a Rotor Ice Protection System (RIPS), which allows the aircraft to operate in known icing conditions. RIPS has been certified by both North American and European aviation authorities and is available on S-92 military variants as well as commercial aircraft.

The S-76C++ helicopter, which first entered service in 2005, includes a powerful Turbomeca Arriel 2S2 Engine, an inlet barrier filter to protect the engine against erosion and environmental contaminants, a new Health and Usage Monitoring System, and a quiet main gearbox utilizing Quiet Zone(TM) technology that will significantly reduce interior noise levels without any weight, maintenance or Time Between Overhaul penalties.

Bristow Group Inc. is the leading provider of helicopter services to the worldwide offshore energy industry based on the number of aircraft operated. Through its subsidiaries, affiliates and joint ventures, the Company has operations in most of the major offshore oil and gas producing regions of the world, including in the North Sea, the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, Nigeria and Australia. For more information, visit www.bristowgroup.com.

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Conn., USA, is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture and service. The company's mission statement reflects its long commitment to safety and innovation: "We pioneer flight solutions that bring people home everywhere ... every time(TM)." United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., USA, provides a broad range of high technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries.

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning potential production and sale of helicopters. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to changes in civil aircraft procurement priorities and practices, budget plans or availability of funding or in the number of aircraft to be built; as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in United Technologies Corporation's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.