Air Engiadina has placed an order for a Sikorsky S-76D, to boost its vip passenger capacity in Switzerland or the UK from 2013. As owner, it has operated an S-76A+ for more than 20 years in the vip transport role in the UK under PremiAir Aviation's air operator certificate, and added an S-76C++ helicopter in 2009.

"Air Engiadina chose the S-76D helicopter due to the fine quality of the airframe, the high standard of the equipment and the great support of the manufacturer," says ceo Martin Rufener. "These attributes will provide continued high aircraft availability."

Air Engiadina is a Switzerland-based company owned by Swiss Jet operating fixed wing and rotary aircraft for passenger, vip, sightseeing and aerial work missions. Home base is at Zurich airport or in Samedan, the highest airport in Europe, at 5,700 ft above mean sea level.

"We thank Air Engiadina for its confidence in Sikorsky Aircraft products," says Alex Sharp, Sikorsky European regional sales manager. "The S-76D helicopter will bring outstanding safety, reliability, proven performance and value."

Sikorsky was assisted in the sale by UK sales representative PlaneSayling Aviation. PlaneSayling Aviation reports that it has had a great deal of success selling vip S-76C++ models in the UK and elsewhere in Europe and expects to continue to do so with the S-76D.