Sikorsky

"On the upside, Dobbin’s pioneering move provided leverage in his negotiations to purchase the Super Pumas. Aerospatiale needed a breakthrough in the North American market, dominated by homegrown competitors Bell and Sikorsky. Aerospatiale were prepared to accommodate the first serious purchaser of Super Pumas with attractive deals, and they did, after Sealand received an injection of capital from Louisiana-based Petroleum Helicopters. Cash acquired in exchange for 22 per cent equity in Sealand enabled Dobbin to place a down payment on a fleet of Super Pumas for delivery in 1982."

"The people at Aerospatiale had a different view. For several months the company had tolerated Sealand’s neglect of its debt in exchange for Sealand’s showcasing its Super Puma fleet in North America. U.S.’helicopter firms had long favoured domestic manufacturers, notably Sikorsky and Bell. The Super Pumas were foreign and highly advanced. How reliable could they be, and how good was French engineering and quality control? Whenever those questions arose, Aerospatiale pointed to Sealand’s success in servicing oil platforms off the coast of Atlantic Canada, high in the Arctic and down in the South American jungle. There was a limit to Aerospatiale’s tolerance, however."