On October 14, at 10:30 am, the crew of Air Force instructor Juan Jose Villaescusa Adam and Army Sergeant student Juan Carlos Román Hernández reached the milestone 50,000 flight hours for the Spanish military Sikorsky S-76C fleet.  The flight was an instrument rating training flight operated by 781 Squadron.

Upon landing, the crew was received by Col. Joseph A. Garcia Ayllon, chief of the 78 Wing, who congratulated them personally.  78 Wing is based at Granada – Armilla Air base and includes both the S-76C fleet flown by 781 Squadron and the EC120 fleet with 782 Squadron.

The Sikorsky S-76C has been in service in the Air Force for 23 years since arriving at Ala 78 in 1991. Its primary mission is teaching instrumental courses for helicopter pilots from the Spanish Air Force, Army, Navy and Guardia Civil. It has also a secondary mission, search and rescue that are assigned to Ala 78.  The Spanish Air Force has eight S-76s

The milestone 50,000 hours on a fleet of 8 helicopters in 23 years amounts to 271 hours per helicopter per year.

Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com