Thai Aviation Services S76D
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Thai Aviation Services S76D
Congrats to TAS and Sikorsky on TAS reaching 10,000 flight hours on the S76D! In under 2 years, the S76D program has reached this milestone with an incredible reliability rate. The S76D is a true pleasure to fly. Congrats to all of those involved in making the S76D program in Thailand such an incredible success!!
I've read some time ago in a magazine (or article from a newsletter) that there were more AW139 flying than S-76 of all versions sold. Considering the AW139 time in service (and if the data is true, I didn't check), it's remarkable.
I just have a vague recollection that Bristow returned their S76D under buyers remorse clause because they weren't performing as promised.
Unfortunate for those pilots stuck in the S76 world who can't get a break into the AW139 world.
Unfortunate for those pilots stuck in the S76 world who can't get a break into the AW139 world.
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Bristow still operates the S76D’s. The S76D’s have gotten off to a slow start, certainly doesn’t help that the 76 line was shut down at the worst possible time and then the D came out as the industry was in a free fall. Having said that, the D is like all other variants of the 76 in that they are almost always serviceable, they just keep on going. There are more contract bids out there for the D in the pipeline, so it will be good to see more of them out there. The avionics suite on them is absolutely fantastic. The ones in Thailand go almost all day every day and have a dispatch reliability in the 95+ range. The P&W’s are a fantastic addition to the airframe.
The numbers are quite close, per Wiki and SAC respectively, 900 AW139 and 875 S-76 A/B/C/D have been produced.
The last few years it’s been easier finding a job with a 76 stamp on your license than a 139. Two different animals, one 7000 kg designed around a Cat A obsession and the other a sub-5400 comfort vehicle. Avionics in the 139 suck a** outside the offshore environment.
Really? Our supply of customers for S76 recurrent simulator training has been virtually nil for past 2 years. Try and get a slot on an AW139 sim course, the wait is many months. The demand for S76 is just not there.
