Breaks Ground
Keystone Helicopter
broke ground this week in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, on the next
phase of what will be one of the largest, most sophisticated
independent rotorcraft maintenance, repair, modification and
technology development centers in the country. This helicopter
depot reflects the growth Keystone Helicopter has enjoyed over the
last several years and will be outfitted with state of the art
technical capability.
The Keystone "Heliplex" is an airport-based 173,000 square foot
multi-building technical center which will be one of the largest
and most technically advanced commercial rotorcraft depots in the
country. Long range site plans allow for eventual expansion to over
315,000 square feet, with multi-year capital budgets aimed at
enhancing technical overhaul and servicing capacities for
helicopters, engines, avionics, components.
"The Heliplex's construction was necessitated by our robust
growth over the last four years," stated Robert Ferrucci, Vice
President-Engineering of Keystone's parent holding company,
Keystone Ranger Holdings.
Ferrucci has been the primary Project Officer for the Keystone
Heliplex since its inception. "We designed the facility from the
customer's perspective, investing heavily in new shop capabilities,
and making sure the layouts would be more conducive to efficient,
timely work flows. Our ISO-9000 initiatives and Kaizen innovations
have helped along the way. New engine test cells, modernized shops,
and improved IT systems will all serve our customers' needs better.
And we have room on this new site to grow in place literally for
decades to come. Our location in the heart of the Northeastern USA
business corridor bodes well for continued expansion and market
share," said Ferrucci.
The company's senior management, several local elected
officials, as well as representatives from the Chester County
Business Development Commission were on site to celebrate and take
part in the ground breaking ceremony.
David Ford, President of Keystone Helicopter said, "We've
increased annual sales from $38.7 Million in 2000 to an
unprecedented tripling to nearly $125 Million for 2005; more than
doubled employment to over 600 people, and expanded our fleet from
25 to 36 helicopters. We have outfitted "green" completions on more
than 70 new turbine helicopters for customers such as Sikorsky
Aircraft Corporation and Agusta Aerospace; by the way, that's more
than any other independent rotorcraft completion center in the
world!"
Keystone Helicopter Corporation is an FAA and European Aviation
Safety Authority (EASA) licensed rotorcraft repair station that has
grown in five decades to be one of the strongest technical
franchises in the helicopter services industry.
Most of Keystone's revenues are derived from its many repair,
engineering, and technical services activities. They perform highly
complex maintenance and other work on behalf of such manufacturers
as Agusta Aerospace, Bell Helicopter, Eurocopter, Honeywell, Rolls
Royce engines, Sikorsky Aircraft, and Turbomeca engines. Keystone's
Engine Services Division handles sophisticated turbine engine
overhauls.
KeyTech, the company's engineering division with 42 engineers
(including six FAA licensed Designated Engineering Representatives)
is one of only 34 FAA certified Designated Alteration Stations
(DAS) world wide, in any segment of the aerospace industry, and is
an important differentiator for Keystone in the rotorcraft
field.
The Flight Division is one of the largest air medical transport
operators in the NE United States, with over 150 highly experienced
pilots and mechanics in the field, at 28 operating sites where the
company acts as the turn-key flight department for many major
hospitals.
"We are customer focused with a commitment to quality and safety
that is displayed in action not words," said Steve Townes, CEO of
Keystone Helicopter and founder of Ranger Aerospace. "This
rotorcraft enterprise is on the move, destined for so much more in
the future. These new facilities give us a real competitive edge,
allowing the company to truly take off." Keystone alone, excluding
other Ranger operations, does over 550,000 man-hours per year of
varied technical services for hundreds of helicopters.