The biggest names in the aircraft industry are gathering around the runways of the Chester County G.O. Carlson Airport and others across the globe where Sikorsky Helicopter’s newly assembled helicopters take flight in anticipation of a potential deal for parent company United Technologies to part with the U.S. military’s largest helicopter manufacturer.

Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin and Textron are among the firms exploring the fate of the business unit, according to a recent report in TheStreet,  but the complications are about as diverse as Sikorsky’s array of commercial and military helicopter models, not the least of which is the tax implications of being married to United Technologies for nearly 100 years.

Resistance from the U.S. Department of Defense, other regulatory rules and labor union incompatibilities also rank high.

The article notes that analysts speculate a spinoff of Sikorsky Helicopter as United’s most likely move, rather than an outright sale.

Its disinterest in the longtime unit stems from the helicopter market’s lack of growth. And of all the potential suitors, the smaller Textron has been viewed by some as the most compatible, though it may have to maneuver a spinoff of its own to orchestrate a deal, the article stated.

Read more about the factors and firms in play for a decision about Sikorsky Helicopter’s future in TheStreet here, and check out previous Vista Today coverage of situation here.