Sikorsky Aircraft Asbestos Exposure & Compensation

Sikorsky Aircraft, headquartered in Stratford, Connecticut, is one of the leading helicopter manufacturers in the United States. The company has supplied helicopters, as well as other aviation and surface vehicles, to both the military and civilians for generations. For many years, asbestos was widely used in the manufacture and repair of Sikorsky’s aircraft and other vehicles.

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Employees and military personnel who assembled, maintained, or repaired aircraft parts at Sikorsky Aircraft were regularly exposed to asbestos, putting them at risk for serious diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer.

If you or someone you love experienced asbestos exposure at Sikorsky, you may be eligible for financial compensation. The experienced mesothelioma lawyers at Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen (ELSM) will evaluate your case and discuss legal options.

Sikorsky Aircraft at a Glance

• Sikorsky Aircraft is currently a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, which acquired the company in 2015. Previously, the company was a part of United Technologies Corporation (UTC).
• Beginning in the 1970s, Sikorsky Aircraft used asbestos-containing products in the manufacture and maintenance of its helicopters and other vehicles, exposing military and civilian workers to asbestos as a result.
• Sikorsky operates in several Connecticut communities, including Bridgeport, Shelton, and Stratford. At least 5 bankruptcy trust funds, established to compensate asbestos victims, list one or more of these Sikorsky locations as known asbestos exposure jobsites.
• Compensation is available for individuals who were exposed to asbestos at Sikorsky. The Connecticut asbestos lawyers at ELSM Law can help you determine eligibility.

Asbestos Exposure at Sikorsky Aircraft

Asbestos is a mineral fiber that was widely used in industrial manufacturing during much of the 20th Century. Its high heat resistance and durability properties, essential in aircraft exposed to high temperatures and friction, made it especially useful in aerospace and defense industries, including helicopter manufacturing.

Sikorsky Aircraft developed the first mass-produced helicopter in the United States, which it began supplying to the military in 1942. The company also produced seaplanes, as well as some boats and trains, for the armed forces and civilian sectors.

At Sikorsky Aircraft facilities, workers are known to have been exposed to asbestos while building and repairing helicopters, seaplanes, as well as boats, trains, and other vehicles. Asbestos-containing components like brake-linings, gaskets, seals, heat shields, adhesives, paints, and coatings were commonly used by Sikorsky in their manufacturing process. Repeated exposure to disturbed asbestos can elevate one’s risk of developing asbestos-related lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Timeline of Sikorsky Aircraft and Asbestos Exposure:

• Late 1930s: Sikorsky Aircraft begins to use asbestos in the manufacture of helicopters and other aircraft. Though some of the dangers of asbestos exposure were known, the material would continue to be used in many industries until the 1980s.
• 1970s–1980s: Sikorsky Aircraft employees report exposure to asbestos-containing adhesives, gaskets, and dust in blade and assembly shops while producing military and commercial helicopters.
• 1979–1980: Workers in Sikorsky’s Stratford blade shop confirm sanding and handling an asbestos-containing adhesive (“FM-37”) that created airborne dust during production.
• 1987: Multiple estates sue Sikorsky Aircraft alleging asbestos exposure from its manufacturing operations.
• 2010: Asbestos found in the boiler house at the Stratford Sikorsky plant. Remediation and testing conducted after confirmation of asbestos materials.

High-Risk Occupations at Sikorsky

Occupations involved in the manufacture, servicing, or repair of helicopters or other aircraft at Sikorsky often exposed workers to asbestos fibers. They could inhale these fibers while cutting insulation, sanding parts, or repairing brakes and gaskets.

Sikorsky employees in the following occupations may have faced increased risk of asbestos-related diseases:

Secondary Asbestos Exposure

Family members and loved ones of Sikorsky Aircraft workers may have also suffered secondary asbestos exposure. Asbestos fibers that were inadvertently carried home on the clothes or in the hair of a worker, may have been inhaled by family members during direct contact with them, elevating their own risk of developing mesothelioma or lung cancer. If you have developed an asbestos-related disease in this way, you may be entitled to compensation, too.

Even if we were insulating new steam piping or chilled water piping that was going in, all your surrounding pipes were still covered with asbestos and all friable; it was prevalent everywhere. Insulator
Recalling his work at Sikorsky, early 1980s

Asbestos Products Used at Sikorsky

Asbestos was widely used in the construction and repair of aircraft and other vehicles at Sikorsky facilities. A variety of aeronautics components and materials are known to have contained asbestos including everything from brake linings and engine gaskets to paint and sealing products.

Asbestos-containing parts and products used at Sikorsky Aircraft include:

Compensation for Sikorsky Aircraft Employees With Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma compensation may be available to those managing the costs of an asbestos-related cancer diagnosis. Securing a financial award can provide needed security during a challenging time.

ELSM has represented nearly a dozen clients impacted by asbestos exposure at Sikorsky Aircraft. There are several ways ELSM can help you pursue compensation, including filing asbestos trust fund claims, workers’ compensation or VA claims, and pursuing a mesothelioma lawsuit against Sikorsky.

Asbestos Trust Fund Claims

In certain cases, bankrupt companies established asbestos trust funds to compensate individuals who were exposed to asbestos and later developed mesothelioma or other asbestos-related cancers as a result.

Sikorsky Aircraft remains in operation and does not have its own asbestos trust. However, employees exposed to asbestos can file claims with trusts set up by companies that supplied asbestos-containing parts and materials used in Sikorsky’s facilities and aircraft.

Currently, five asbestos trust funds specifically name Sikorsky Aircraft as an approved jobsite. Lawyers at ELSM can help you determine if you are eligible for compensation from these funds, and any others.

Bankrupt Asbestos Company	Asbestos Exposure Start Date	Asbestos Exposure End Date
A.P. Green Industries	1/1/1966
Burns & Roe	1/1/1962
Fibreboard		12/31/1982
Halliburton	9/1/1952	12/31/1982
United States Gypsum	1/1/1966	1/2/1968

Asbestos Lawsuits

An experienced asbestos lawyer can help you understand whether filing a mesothelioma lawsuit against Sikorsky Aircraft is your best approach to obtaining financial compensation. ELSM has helped numerous individuals and families file mesothelioma lawsuits against Sikorsky Aircraft as a result of their asbestos exposure. Lawsuits not only provide monetary support to those affected by asbestos, but they also hold companies accountable for putting employees and others at risk.

Most states have strict statutes of limitations for asbestos claims, often 1–3 years after diagnosis or death. It is important to speak with an experienced asbestos law firm to file a mesothelioma lawsuit promptly. If you were exposed to asbestos at Sikorsky Aircraft and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact ELSM for assistance.

Workers’ Compensation and Veterans' Compensation

Workers’ compensation is designed to protect workers who get sick or injured on their jobs. If you or someone dear to you was an employee of Sikorsky Aircraft and developed mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure at work, filing a workers’ compensation claim may be an option for you.

If you are a veteran who worked on Sikorsky manufactured aircraft or in Sikorsky facilities and you were exposed to asbestos, you could be entitled to disability benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs. These can include coverage for medical care, disability compensation, and survivor benefits for your family.

Common Questions About Asbestos Exposure at Sikorsky Aircraft

What jobs at Sikorsky Aircraft were most at risk of asbestos exposure?

Employees who worked closest to older aircraft components faced the greatest asbestos risk at Sikorsky Aircraft. Mechanics, overhaul crews, and workers who installed, removed or replaced insulation, brake parts, or heat-resistant seals were especially vulnerable.

Can family members of Sikorsky Aircraft workers diagnosed with mesothelioma receive compensation?

Yes. Family members of Sikorsky Aircraft workers may be able to file mesothelioma claims if they developed the illness through secondary asbestos exposure, such as fibers brought home on clothing. They may also be eligible to file wrongful death lawsuits if a loved one died from asbestos-related mesothelioma.