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Keystone Breaks Ground On Giant 'Heliplex'
By: Gordon Gilbert
Caption: Keystone Helicopter is “digging in for long-term growth.” The company announced last Friday that it broke ground for a 173,000-sq-ft, multi-building techni
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Keystone Helicopter is “digging in for long-term growth.” The company announced last Friday that it broke ground for a 173,000-sq-ft, multi-building technical center at Chester County Airport in Coatesville, Pa. According to Keystone, the complex will be “one of the largest and most technically advanced commercial rotorcraft depots in the country.” Long-range plans for the site allow for expansion that will eventually total more than 315,000 sq ft, “with multi-year capital budgets aimed at enhancing technical overhaul and servicing capacities for helicopters, engines, avionics and components.” The new depot reflects “robust growth over the past five years,” said Keystone president David Ford. “We've increased annual sales from $38.7 million in 2000...to nearly $125 million for 2005, more than doubled employment to over 600 people, expanded our fleet from 25 to 36 helicopters [and] outfitted green completions on more than 70 new turbine helicopters.”