ST. LOUIS, 14 June 2006. Boeing Integrated Defense Systems has announced an agreement with Keystone Helicopter of West Chester, Pa., to design, manufacture and deliver a patient treatment area for the HH-47 aircraft proposed for the U.S. Air Force Combat Search and Rescue helicopter program.
CSAR-X is a U.S. Air Force initiative to procure more capable and survivable aircraft able to recover isolated personnel from hostile or denied territory. The tandem rotor, heavy lift, high altitude HH-47 is based on the CH/MH-47 Chinook tandem rotor transport helicopter, with performance capabilities that have been widely demonstrated in the ongoing war on terrorism and in numerous U.S. and international humanitarian relief operations.
Keystone will design and manufacture an interior patient treatment area to provide life-sustaining emergency medical care for up to six littered or eight ambulatory patients. Keystone's new design facilitates rapid installation, removal and storage of the medical interior, while providing unobstructed access to each patient.
Keystone Helicopter is a full-service maintenance and completion center anchored by the Heliplex, a new, 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. Keystone was acquired by Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. in Stratford, Conn., in 2005. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. in Hartford, Conn.
