Piasecki Aircraft is preparing to roll out its first major program at the former Sikorsky helicopter plant in Coatesville that could create up to 200 new jobs, writes Ryan Mulligan for the Philadelphia Business Journal. 

The company is partnering with Columbia Helicopters to upgrade its heavy-lift helicopter fleet. The financial terms of the partnership have not been revealed. 

Piasecki acquired the plant previously owned by Lockheed Martin Sikorsky for $10.5 million in April 2023. The shuttered facility once employed over 1,000 people. 

The new jobs being created by the partnership with Columbia Helicopters will represent a major step toward achieving a goal of adding 400 new jobs at the plant by 2028. The new positions will be in engineering, manufacturing, assembly, flight test, delivery, maintenance, and support. 

The program will modify the partner company’s Model 107-II tandem rotor helicopters into CHI-107-III configuration which is more fuel-efficient and powerful. 

“This collaboration represents a significant step forward in the evolution of tandem rotor helicopters and promises to deliver enhanced capabilities to a wide range of military and civil applications,” said Piasecki CEO John Piasecki. 

Read more about Piasecki Aircraft’s new program in the Philadelphia Business Journal. 

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