Sir - We are concerned at the seriously misleading and inaccurate article about helicopters for the Army (An Irishman's Diary, December 19th). We believe that informed comment and opinion is important in any democracy. However, the content of a number of articles written by Mr Myers on this issue causes us serious concern.
Mr Myers' latest thesis includes a number of assertions that are simply wrong. Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation has a proud heritage in helicopters. Indeed our founder, Igor Sikorsky, created his first helicopter explicitly for search and rescue. Our helicopters have been continuously improved and used in service for almost 60 years. The name Sikorsky is synonymous with helicopters, and our reputation in search and rescue is second to none around the world.
Our reputation has been built on saving lives, not putting them at risk. Mr Myers's insinuations about lives of sailors and airmen being endangered by one of our helicopters is an insult to Sikorsky's heritage and demonstrated purpose. The S-92 has been built to the highest possible civilian safety standards (FAA/JAA). Other aircraft have lesser military safety standards.
The S-92 is the safest helicopter in this race with the most advanced equipment, and for Mr Myers to allege otherwise is grossly misleading and damaging.
We take enormous pride in the number of lives saved each year by the crews of Sikorsky helicopters. Over 1,650 lives were saved by Sikorsky helicopters last year, approximately 41,250 lives over the past 25 years. Mr Myers did not mention that the Sikorsky S-61, the standard in its time for reliability, robustness and capability, has served the Irish air service faultlessly and commendably for years.
We are also justifiably proud of the S-92 aircraft's cost effectiveness. Independent data (Conklin and de Decker, Aircraft Cost Evaluator 2001) shows that the S-92 is better value than both the Cougar and the EH-101 over 20 years.
Ireland will not be the launch S-92 customer as stated by Mr Myers. We have signed agreements with five customers for a total of 18 S-92s and more are in progress. The aircraft is in full production on the basis of the civil and military market agreements and prospects.
The US Government has recently expressed increased interest in the S-92 and we are currently demonstrating the aircraft's military capabilities to the US Air Force, the US Marine Corps and the US Coast Guard.
Sikorsky highlighted its offer of industrial co-operation in our original bid last April. All other similar tenders in Europe this year have required industrial co-operation. Mr Myers neglected to mention that both our competitors have been trying to emulate our leadership in this area. Both of them have in recent days contacted FLS Aerospace in unsuccessful attempts to rival our offer.
We offered a full and thorough briefing on the Sikorsky S-92 to Mr Myers, but he declined. This may account for some of the inaccuracies in his article, and for the fact that he cannot even spell the name of the company correctly. He would also have learned that the S-92 has a rear tail-loading ramp, which he alleged it did not have.
Further, we would have expected that Mr Myers would know that Minister O'Rourke has been, for more than four years, Minister for Public Enterprise and that there is no such position as Minister for Industry and Commerce in the current Government.
In the interests of accuracy and balanced journalism on this important issue we again offer Mr Myers a full briefing. We hope that this time he will accept. - Yours, etc.,
Dave Powell, Regional Executive, International Business - Europe, Sikorsky International Operations, Inc., Stratford, Connecticut, USA.