06:34 GMT, September 2, 2009 STRATFORD, Connecticut | The 50th anniversary of the legendary S-61 helicopter will be celebrated during the 12th annual International SEA KING Maintenance Symposium, kicking off today (1 September 2009) at the Omni Hotel in New Haven. The event will be hosted by Sikorsky Aerospace Services, the aftermarket business of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX).

Operators of the aircraft, owners, pilots, and maintenance personnel will participate in technical and informational sessions and networking opportunities during the three-day symposium. Sergei Sikorsky, son of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. founder Igor Sikorsky, will be the keynote speaker of the event.

“We are honored to host this year’s event,” said Frank DiPasquale, Vice President, Sales, Marketing Strategic Relationships for Sikorsky Aerospace Services. “S-61 helicopters have performed a variety of military and commercial missions since the first prototype flew in March 1959 after Sikorsky Aircraft developed it for the U.S. Navy. Since then, military services around the world have flown them, and today more than 550 SEA KING and S-61 commercial helicopter variants continue to operate in more than 20 nations. With a new modernization program under way, we hope to keep these aircraft flying for many years to come.”

Chairman of the symposium Steering Committee, Lieutenant-Colonel Ken MacKenzie, Canadian Forces, said: “The symposium offers a unique opportunity for military and commercial operators and industry representatives from around the world to discuss common technical and maintenance issues that enable us to sustain our SEA KING and S-61 helicopter operations.”

“As this year marks the 50th anniversary of the first SEA KING flight, it is fitting that Sikorsky is hosting this year’s symposium,” MacKenzie added.

More than 150 attendees from 15 countries have registered to attend the event. The symposium will feature product presentations, panel discussions and flight demonstrations by Carson of the S-61 helicopter.