Lockheed Martin is planning to close its Sikorsky helicopter facility near Coatesville by year’s end due to the prolonged downturn in the helicopter market globally, writes Donna Rovins for the Daily Local News.

According to Callie Ferrari, a spokeswoman for Lockheed Martin, the company is working to place as many of the plant’s 465 employees as possible in other Lockheed Martin facilities.

At present, around 75 positions are expected to relocate to the company’s King of Prussia facility.

Major programs from the Chester County plant, including Sikorsky’s S-92 and S-76D helicopter completion work, will transition to Owego, N.Y.

U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan expressed her disappointment in the decision.

“My heart goes out to everyone in our community who’s hurt by this,” she said. “I offered my help to Sikorsky executives months ago, that offer still stands, and I have asked Sikorsky to reconsider.”

Gary Smith, President and CEO of the Chester County Economic Development Council, said the news of the closing came as “kind of a shock.”

He said that the best outcome would be for another company to buy Sikorsky’s facilities.

“There are other helicopter companies in the area,” he said.

Read more about Sikorsky in the Daily Local News here.

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