COATSVILLE, Pa., April 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Keystone Helicopter Corp., a subsidiary of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., announced today it has won approval to act on behalf of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in certifying modifications performed on certain fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. .
Keystone received the Organization Designation Approval (ODA) after demonstrating to the FAA that the company has the expertise, facilities, experience, and qualified employees to issue Supplemental Type Certificates for work performed on aircraft certified under part 23, 27 & 29. The authorization will allow Keystone to better serve customers by reducing delivery times, while helping to alleviate demands on the overburdened FAA.
"Keystone is truly fortunate to have among the most professional staff in this industry," said company President David Ford. "The award of the ODA authorization will help ensure that we are able to continue to provide world-class services to our customers for many years to come, and to contribute to the safety and efficiency of the aviation regulatory environment."
The ODA covers a wide range of work, including cockpit instrument modifications and installation of exterior features such as searchlights. It excludes work on major spinning components such as engines and rotors. With the authorization, Keystone engineers also can certify work done at non-Keystone facilities.
The company also plans to increase its engineering staff from 86 engineers to more than 100 by First Quarter 2009 and to seek Parts Manufacturing Approval PMA-ODA status to certify the manufacturing of aircraft parts, maintenance repair alterations, and aircraft production.
Keystone Helicopter is a full-service maintenance and completion center anchored by the HELIPLEX(TM), a state-of-the-art technical services depot in Coatesville, Pa. Keystone is a factory-authorized service center for Bell, Eurocopter, MD Helicopter, Rolls Royce, Turbomeca, Pratt & Whitney, and Sikorsky products. Based in Stratford, Conn., Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture, and service. The company's mission statement reflects its long commitment to safety and innovation: "We pioneer flight solutions that bring people home everywhere ... every time(TM)." United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., provides a broad range of high technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries.
Contact:
Cass Hamby
484-883-4573
