Sikorsky, Tatas in helicopter cabin manufacturing deal

United Technologies Corp.'s (UTC) Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. unit has signed an agreement with Tata's Advanced Systems Ltd to manufacture Sikorsky S-92 helicopter cabins in India.

Tata said that the first cabin is scheduled for delivery in late 2010 from a new greenfield facility that TASL will construct at Hyderabad in India's state of Andhra Pradesh.

Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) provides integrated solutions for aerospace, defence, homeland security and disaster management.

Nearly 100 of Sikorsky's S-92 helicopters have been produced to date, and the worldwide operating fleet has accumulated more than 150,000 flight hours. The aircraft perform a variety of missions including search and rescue off the UK coast, and head of state transport for the leaders of several nations. The S-92 helicopter is also used for transporting oil workers to offshore platforms.

The agreement marks the first for the manufacture of Sikorsky products in India. UTC's Hamilton Sundstrand aerospace systems, Pratt & Whitney aircraft engines, Otis Elevator, Carrier air conditioning and UTC Fire & Security units occupy more than 100 offices and factories in nearly 50 cities, and employ around 4,000 people in India.

Tata companies operate in the communications and information technology, engineering, materials, services, energy, consumer products and chemicals sectors. Overall, the Tata group posted total revenue of around $62.5 billion in 2007 and 2008. Tata employs around 350,000 people worldwide.