In a significant boost to Sikorsky S-92 helicopter aftermarket support, six operators during 2025 and early 2026 have renewed their multi-year Total Assurance Program (TAP) contracts offered by Sikorsky. Equivalent to a power-by-the-hour service, TAP enables operators to fly their aircraft at a known cost-per-hour basis and receive replacement parts when needed.

“The past 10 months have seen strong demand by offshore energy companies to renew TAP aftermarket agreements into the early 2030s,” says Leon Silva, Sikorsky vice president, global commercial and military systems. “Multi-year coverage signals confidence in the reliability and endurance of the S-92 helicopter and in our ability to deliver or stock aftermarket parts that help these aircraft fly consistently in the mid-90 percent availability rates, among the highest in the industry.”

Bristow, the largest S-92 operator, renewed its TAP agreement in April 2025 to support approximately 60 aircraft. Since then, five additional operators, including Offshore Helicopter Services, have renewed their contracts. The six contracts collectively signed through February 2026 comprise almost 100 aircraft.

TAP provides coverage for more than 90 per cent of S-92 replacement parts cost, including airframe, drive train, gearbox, avionics and consumable components. This service benefits those flying one S-92 aircraft 100 hours a year or large fleet operators accumulating up to 1,500 hours per aircraft annually during frequent long-range offshore trips.

TAP by the numbers: Sikorsky launched its TAP in 2004 with two S-92 offshore energy operators, namely Omni and PHI; in 2026, a total of nine S-92 operators, the vast majority in the offshore energy and search and rescue sectors, receive TAP coverage. Nearly all S-92 operators who contracted for multi-year TAP agreements in 2015 have renewed; of the 270 active S-92 helicopters across the global fleet, 155 (57 per cent) are covered by TAP contracts; TAP utilises four forward stocking locations (FSL) on three continents to pre-position high demand and long-lead time parts; one S-92 aircraft that retired from offshore service after reaching the maximum certified 30,000 flight hours was supported by TAP for its entire 20-year life.

“The continued success of Sikorsky's TAP for more than two decades clearly demonstrates industry trust in Sikorsky to address evolving challenges,” comments Pat Sheedy, CEO of helicopter leasing company, Milestone. “We are fully confident in the programme's ability to keep our S-92 aircraft mission ready. These renewed multi-year commitments highlight the market's confidence in the programme's reliability and long-term value.”

TAP support allows Sikorsky to track individual aircraft health and adjust parts availability to the operational tempo of each S-92 customer.

Many years' collecting HUMS data from the 310 S-92 aircraft delivered to date has supported Sikorsky's development of AI tools and algorithms to interpret aircraft health data and develop long-term solutions. Its FSLs in four countries store spare parts close to customer operations.

The result is dramatically improved flight availability, condition-based maintenance regimes, longer times between major overhauls and a reduction of inventory costs to support the global fleet, now 2.6 million flight hours.