Rotorcraft Reports: Keystone Earns First S-76C++ Airworthiness Certificate

Keystone Helicopter Corp. has earned its first standard airworthiness certificate from the FAA for a Sikorsky Aircraft S-76C++ built at its Coatesville, Pa., facility, which the company calls the Heliplex.

The Sikorsky subsidiary is targeted as an overflow production site for the parent’s S-76s and S-92s. Sikorsky pursued production certificates for those aircraft at Keystone after a 10-week Teamsters’ strike early last year crippled production. Sikorsky is still recovering from that disruption.

"This is a very impressive achievement and an important milestone in accomplishing Sikorsky’s plan to increase production capacity to meet the demands of our customers," said Marc Poland, Sikorsky’s new vice president of commercial programs for Sikorsky Aircraft.