Nine Sikorsky Helicopters Added to Bristow Fleet

    FARNBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL AIR SHOW, July 14 /EMWNews-FirstCall/ --

Bristow Group Inc. (NYSE: BRS) has exercised options on its existing sales

agreement with Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. for three S-92(R) helicopters and

six S-76C++(TM) helicopters, Sikorsky Aircraft announced today from the

Farnborough International Air Show. Sikorsky is a business unit of United

Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).



    



    Bristow, a longtime Sikorsky Aircraft customer, also added options to

purchase eight additional S-92 helicopters. Bristow will use the new S-92

and S-76C++ helicopters to fulfill offshore transportation requirements in

various parts of the world.



    "These option conversions clearly represent the faith in Sikorsky's

commercial products and its support of those products," said Sikorsky

President Jeffrey P. Pino. "Sikorsky's relationship with the Bristow Group

spans fifty years, and we look forward to continuing our close relationship

with Bristow for many years to come."



    Mark Duncan, Bristow Senior Vice President, Western Hemisphere, said,

"Bristow's longstanding relationship with Sikorsky, including the original

2005 multi-year contracts to purchase S-76's and S-92's, have been

instrumental in allowing us to meet the increased opportunities presented

to us by our customers. We value our working relationship with Sikorsky and

appreciate the flexibility afforded us."



    The S-92 is the first helicopter in the world certified to the latest

U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and European Joint airworthiness

safety standards. The S-92 helicopter features a Rotor Ice Protection

System (RIPS), which allows the aircraft to operate in known icing

conditions. RIPS has been certified by both North American and European

aviation authorities and is available on S-92 military variants as well as

commercial aircraft.



    The S-76C++ helicopter, which first entered service in 2005, includes a

powerful Turbomeca Arriel 2S2 Engine, an inlet barrier filter to protect

the engine against erosion and environmental contaminants, a new Health and

Usage Monitoring System, and a quiet main gearbox utilizing Quiet Zone(TM)

technology that will significantly reduce interior noise levels without any

weight, maintenance or Time Between Overhaul penalties.



    Bristow Group Inc. is the leading provider of helicopter services to

the worldwide offshore energy industry based on the number of aircraft

operated. Through its subsidiaries, affiliates and joint ventures, the

Company has operations in most of the major offshore oil and gas producing

regions of the world, including in the North Sea, the U.S. Gulf of Mexico,

Nigeria and Australia. For more information, visit http://www.bristowgroup.com.



    Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Conn., USA, is a world

leader in helicopter design, manufacture and service. The company's mission

statement reflects its long commitment to safety and innovation: "We

pioneer flight solutions that bring people home everywhere ... every

time(TM)." United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., USA,

provides a broad range of high technology products and support services to

the aerospace and building systems industries.



    This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning

potential production and sale of helicopters. Actual results may differ

materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and

uncertainties, including but not limited to changes in civil aircraft

procurement priorities and practices, budget plans or availability of

funding or in the number of aircraft to be built; as well as other risks

and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to

time in United Technologies Corporation's Securities and Exchange

Commission filings.