| Story from Dailylocal.com:
Keystone Helicopters on Thursday presented the Sadsburyville Fire Company with a check for $25,000 to help the department buy a new pumper/tanker truck.
The donation reflects the company's appreciation for the support the fire company gives it as it continues to grow and launch more helicopters from its Bellaire Business Center headquarters and completion center.
Aviation regulations require a fire engine to be on standby whenever a helicopter is put into the air for the first time, explained David Ford, president of Keystone.
"In the three years we've been here, we've never needed (emergency action), thankfully," Ford said.
Keystone has, however, needed more assistance due to its high growth rate.
The company has doubled its volume in the three years since it moved from West Whiteland to Sadsbury, Ford said, and expects to double volume again within three years.
Keystone is a completion and customization center for the commercial side of its parent company, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. of Stratford, Conn.
Work at the western Chester County location is being expanded, Ford said, to include the entire process in building Sikorsky's commercial helicopters.
That transfer is being pushed by the increased demand of Sikorsky's military helicopter, The Black Hawk, which is made in Stratford.
"They are moving all commercial activity (here)," Ford said. "We will build, customize and fly them to the customers."
Ford noted some growth numbers:
Close to 800 employees now work at Keystone, with 250 to 300 more expected to be hired in the next three to five years. In 1996, when Ford joined the company, there were fewer than 100 employees.
Revenues are approaching $200 million a year. In 1996, the figure was $20 million, Ford said.
The company now completes 80 helicopters a year.
Keystone is building a 60,000-square-foot flight hangar that should be completed in the fall.
The biggest markets for Keystone's commercial helicopters are off-shore oil and gas exploration, emergency services and for corporate VIP transport.
With a price tag of $10 million to $12 million, Keystone helicopters go through an extensive checklist before their maiden voyages. The company also runs a maintenance, repair and overhaul operation at the adjacent Chester County/G.O. Carlson Airport.
For the Sadsburyville Fire Company, the donation is a welcomed bump in its efforts to raise the money needed to upgrade its equipment.
Battalion Chief Adam Grossman said the fire company is about halfway to raising the money necessary to buy a new 2,500-gallon pumper/tanker engine that will replace a 1964 Hahn truck.
To house the new truck, the fire company has to expand its station since fire equipment has gotten bigger since 1964, Grossman said. The fire company will spend $250,000 to $300,000 on the building and $300,000 to $400,000 for the truck, he said.
Thus far, 80 percent of the fundraising has been done by the fire company's volunteers via their weekly bingo games, Grossman said.
"We're in the planning phase now, hopefully we'll start building in the summer," Grossman said.
Thursday's check presentation to Sadsburyville Fire Company preceded a company barbecue and awards ceremony to recognize employee performance. |
