Ruslan International ' the company which manages and markets the combined Antonov An-124 fleets of its shareholders Antonov Airlines and Volga Dnepr Airlines ' has arranged the transport of a brand new Sikorsky S-92 helicopter from Stewart International Airport in New York State to Stavanger in Norway, where it will be used for flying to and from offshore oil rigs in the North Sea.

The aircraft is the first of a record order of 16 S-92s, all of which feature special equipment and systems necessary for operations in the North Sea region - including flotation devices, auto-deployable life rafts, satellite flight following communications and main rotor blade ice protection systems.

Ruslan International operated the flight on behalf of Danish charter broker AirContact A/S, who arranged the charter for its customer Norsk Helikopterservice A/S (NHS). NHS specialises in oil rig crew transfer services.

The first machine and its spares were carried on board an An-124 belonging to Ruslan International partner Antonov Airlines. The flight was accompanied by Norsk Helikopterservice A/S MD Bjorn Seljevold.

The Sikorsky S-92 is a four-blade, twin-engine, medium-lift helicopter with around 200 examples now in service for military and civilian operators around the world. The aircraft has a 17m long x 5.26m wide fuselage, 17.17m diameter 4-blade main rotor, a two-man crew and can carry up to 19 passengers or a 5000 kilo payload.