Kaman Congratulates Four New Zealand Aircrew For Surpassing 1,000 Flight Hours in Seasprite Helicopters

Kaman Aerospace Corporation announced today that its Helicopters Division has recognized four Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) aircrew for each surpassing 1,000 flight hours in SH-2 Seasprite helicopters. LCDR Keith Gilchrist, LCDR Jason Haggitt, Warrant Officer Dave Morgan and Petty Officer Stevin Creeggan each received a commemorative plaque for reaching the 1,000-hour flight milestone.

“This achievement of these individuals reflects the considerable experience that the Royal New Zealand Navy flight crews have accumulated with the SH-2 Seasprite, and also the aircraft’s high level of operational availability and reliability,” said Sal Bordonaro, president, Helicopters Division. “We at Kaman congratulate these crewmen for their achievements and look forward to supporting them and the rest of those in the New Zealand SH-2G(NZ) fleet for many more years to come.”

The New Zealand Navy has flown the SH-2 type helicopter since the late 1990s. Its current model, the SH-2G(NZ) multi-mission helicopter, became operational with the RNZN in 2000, and is equipped with advanced radar, FLIR and ESM systems to provide surface surveillance, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare and search and rescue capabilities. The SH-2G was selected by New Zealand Defence in 1997 to serve aboard Leander and ANZAC frigates and has been consistently deployed to the Persian Gulf, East Timor, and other areas. Five SH-2G(NZ) Super Seasprite helicopters are currently in service with the RNZN, based in Auckland.

Kaman Aerospace Corp. is part of the Aerospace segment of Kaman Corp. (NASDAQ:KAMN) of Bloomfield, Conn. The Aerospace segment markets and supports the SH-2G and K-MAX helicopters, is a subcontractor for complex metallic and composite structures and components for commercial, military and general aviation aircraft, designs and manufactures missile and bomb fuzing devices for the U.S. and allied militaries, and is a leading manufacturer of widely used proprietary airframe bearings and components.

Kaman Corp. conducts business in the aerospace, industrial distribution and music markets.