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.

FMI: www.keystonehelicopter.com