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.