Sikorsky Global Helicopters has introduced its first aircraft with a new state-of-the-art Emergency Medical Services interior. Sikorsky Global Helicopters is the commercial business operation of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX).

Sikorsky's Engineering Division in Coatesville, Pa., teamed with industry leader Air Methods Corp. and started working on the project in May 2009. The new interior incorporates the Articulating Patient Loading System (APLS) into the S?76® helicopter. The new interior eliminates back strain while loading patients, opens the cabin floor for more storage, allows multiple positioning for ultimate care of patients, provides a lowered platform to perform CPR and offers multiple options to mount customer-specific gear.

"This new interior addresses the challenge of a number of loading issues and in-flight usage problems that we have been studying," said Jim Munda, Chief Engineer, Sikorsky Global Helicopters. "The new Air Methods litter base offers a major improvement to our medical interiors."

"Even with all the medical gear installed, the interior is really open and clean," said Michael Åkerlund, Director Business Development, Norrlandsflyg AB. "The litter base is absolutely fantastic to use and works very well, regardless of the patient's size. There is no longer a struggle to load a patient due to the high lifting requirement we previously faced. The sliding door is obviously a big improvement for patient loading as well."