STRATFORD, Conn. (AP) – The U.S. State Department has approved a Sikorsky Aircraft helicopter for overseas sales without special export clearances required for military aircraft.

Sikorsky developed the S-92A as a commercial aircraft though it is indirectly based on the Black Hawk program. The State Department’s bureau of political and military affairs determined that it is a civil aircraft, sweeping away export approvals on a case-by-case basis.

The ruling could free the company to sell the S-92A to China, which is building up a maritime search-and-rescue fleet.

Ed Steadham, a spokesman for Sikorsky, declined to comment on potential sales to China or the State Department’s decision.

In 2001, China’s Ministry of Communications purchased two Sikorsky-built helicopters in its first step to upgrade airborne offshore search-and-rescue capabilities. Sikorsky has sold its commercial S-76 helicopter to China since 1984 for use in offshore oil operations.

The S-76 can accommodate 13 passengers and the S-92A can carry 19 passengers and is capable of searching for an hour and returning with six survivors with 30 minutes of fuel in reserve.