Exasperating! Such a slow train coming towards us. Lots of warning signs. We've been talking about this supply chain issue for years, and to see it just engulf us now is just so frustrating.
Amongst so many things,..... Covid probably being the biggest, it seems so clear that Sikorsky just aren't that interested in supporting the civil fleet. Not their fault - Pure commercial decision. Their work is supporting the US military and Marine One etc. We as an industry, gave all the messages that we were moving away from the S92 about 10 years ago, and I never thought we'd still be flying it now - A bit like the S61 going on much longer than expected. OK, Sikorsky should probably have been re-energising the fleet with a B model or an S92C++, but nothing has changed, we all said we were moving away from large heavy helicopters, and the OEMs responded. If it hadn't been for the EC225 tragedy and subsequent ousting from the North Sea (a terrible mistake in my opinion) I'm sure we wouldn't be flying the S92 in anything like the numbers we have now, but were the OEMs supposed to dynamically change tack based on our indecisiveness and mixed messages.
I personally believe that the S92 is no worse than anything from Leonardo - Not sure why it is being singled out.. We just use it more, but the supply chain issues are just as bad with with AW189 and to be fair, better with the AW139, but then that is a much more successful product numerically and in so many markets. Airbus were probably the best and keeping supply chains running, and put the effort into maturing their products and keeping them up to date and fit for the current market. The EC225 would still be (and still is everywhere else it is flying) a great aircraft now, but probably needed 1 less passenger seat to make it more accommodating for offshore workers.