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Sikorsky Aircraft certificated the Model S-92A™ helicopter for flight in icing conditions in 2005. Since that time, the aircraft has flown in icing conditions throughout the world and the approval to launch a flight when icing conditions are forecast or reported has been valuable to operators. However, when the rotor ice protection system was inoperative due to a system failure, use of the aircraft on days of forecast icing was prohibited. Sikorsky Aircraft, therefore, elected to obtain certification of the S-92A helicopter to an EASA limited icing Special Condition so that UK and Norwegian operators in the North Sea sector could complete a mission when icing conditions were forecast, should the RIPS be inoperative on that day. A review of previously available icing data indicated that the S-92A helicopter could meet the requirements of the EASA Special Condition, but that additional flights were required to demonstrate full compliance.

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation designed, tested, and certificated a rotor ice protection system (RIPS) for the S-92A® helicopter, using a combination of analytical methods, simulated ice and artificial icing, dry air tests, and tests in natural icing conditions. The S-92A RIPS is a dual-redundant ice protection system, with the necessary reliability to meet the certification requirements of the US Code of Federal Regulations. Certification for the S-92A to fly in icing conditions was granted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in October 2005 and Transport Canada validated this certification soon thereafter. A Technical Visa was issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in April 2006. The S-92A is now in operation throughout the world, with several operators regularly experiencing icing conditions during their winter operations. With the icing certification of the S-92A a reality, Sikorsky has committed to the design of a RIPS for the S-76D™ helicopter.