Columbia and Piasecki collaborate on upgraded Model 107
Columbia Helicopters has announced a partnership with Piasecki Aircraft to deliver “upgraded heavy-lift helicopters worldwide”
The collaboration will support the upgrading of existing Model 107-II tandem rotorcraft (the civilian variant of the CH-46E Sea Knight) to the more powerful and fuel-efficient Model CHI-107-III configuration.
The partnership will support Columbia’s customers, most of whom use this aircraft type for essential services such as emergency response, aerial firefighting, forestry, infrastructure, and defense.
Columbia provides full original equipment manufacturer (OEM) support for the Model 107-II, and also holds the commercial type and production certificates for the aircraft.
The company stated that the partnership will cover the “development of comprehensive product support plans for the Columbia Model CHI-107-III”.
Modifications and testing will take place at Piasecki’s Heliplex facility in Coatesville, in the US state of Pennsylvania. The facility was previously owned by Lockheed Martin Sikorsky, but was sold last year after they closed their S-76 and S-92 helicopter production lines there.
The site will also serve as Columbia’s new field site, expanding its opportunities on the east coast of the USA. The partners will also establish a Part 145 repair station at the facility as part of the arrangement.
Columbia Helicopters previously featured as the subject of AirMed&Rescue’s March 2024 Provider Profile.
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