Flying Colours Corp has refurbished its first Sikorsky S-92 helicopter at its headquarters in Peterborough, Canada. The nine-passenger VIP helicopter features a striking electric blue interior designed by Flying Colours’ team of designers.
The work included installing forward four-place club and aft five-place club seating; fitting a forward lavatory; cabinetry work; and laying a granite floor in the lavatory and entrance area. The granite floor was supplied by F. LIST (formerly LIST components & furniture).
The seats are covered in white leather with a blue crocodile leather insert. The white leather sidewalls incorporate a blue stingray-patterned leather accent complemented by blue crocodile leather on the lower sidewalls and a blue carpet with a white silk pattern. Flying Colours Corp said the woodwork features a new wood grain veneer with a custom blue high-gloss finish.
The refurbishment took around four months. The helicopter was delivered at the end of January 2015.
Flying Colours Corp said the project’s challenges included conforming the new upholstered seats to meet Part 29 rotorcraft requirements, whereby the passenger seats have to meet rigorous safety standards, including 30g downforce and 18.4g forward force. The leather seat cover is an integral part of the seat’s safety performance and Flying Colours Corp had to determine what design limitations were set by the original seat manufacturer. “This was a real challenge as we had to work within those limitations, but create a stunning design that captured the customer’s vision,” said Sean Gillespie, vice president at Flying Colours Corp. “We worked diligently with the original seat to ensure that the new seat covers met all certification requirements.”
The company also highlighted the incorporation of all the custom materials, particularly the specific placement of the crocodile leather and stingray pattern, as a challenge. “We even had to order additional leather so the patterns aligned precisely on each seat and sidewall,” said Gillespie.
The company, which has completed numerous Sikorsky S-76 helicopters, plans to further develop its helicopter interiors business. “We are extremely pleased to have refurbished our first S-92 and, along with the client, are very happy with the end result,” said Gillespie. “Close collaboration with the client, matched by our team’s flexibility, skills and attention to detail, ensured the project finished on time and in budget. We have always been interested in pursuing the helicopter market and with the combination of our experienced workforce and hangar capacity at both facilities, we are well-positioned to grow that side of our business in the future.”
Click here to see more images of the interior.
