Sikorsky plans to relocate final assembly of S-76 and S-92 civil helicopters from its strike-hit Stratford, Connecticut plant to its recently acquired Keystone Helicopter subsidiary in Coatesville, Pennsylvania.
The manufacturer says the move is part of a long-term plan to increase civil helicopter production capacity, but has been accelerated by the Teamsters union strike, which began on 20 February when about 3,600 of Sikorsky’s 9,600 Stratford employees stopped work. Sikorsky acquired Keystone last December.
A helicopter completion and maintenance company, Keystone has applied for a Federal Aviation Administration production certificate, after which Sikorsky “plans to locate S-76 and S-92 assembly there, as warranted by delivery commitments and business objectives”. Sikorsky delivered 49 civil helicopters last year.
Keystone will perform final assembly, completion and delivery of the helicopters at its Heliplex commercial rotorcraft depot, now under construction in Coatesville, near Philadelphia.
Source: Flight International
