The local helicopter business looks like it might evade some turbulence

It's been a rough couple of weeks for the region's economy.

Philadelphia Energy Solutions announced they would not reopen their Southwest Philly refinery after a massive fire and explosions damaged the facility. More than 1,000 jobs were on the chopping block.

Just a few hours later Hahnemann University Hospital's corporate overseers announced they would shutter that facility, at a cost of another 2,500 jobs.

All of this comes as the region's helicopter industry already was reeling from a couple of setbacks.

First Lockheed Martin announced it was going to close its plan outside Coatesville, in Chester County, sending another 465 people onto the unemployment rolls.

Here in Delco, Boeing already was battling with the Army, which was looking to delay a crucial upgrade program for the Chinook fleet. About 1,000 jobs at the Ridley facility were on the line.

Finally, this week, some good economic news surfaces, in particular when it comes to the copter business.

First, Lockheed Martin, after getting some pressure from President Trump and a lot of heat from local officials such as U.S. Rep Chrissy Houlahan, D-6 of Chester County, reversed course and said it would keep the plant open.

And today in Washington, the House is likely to approve funding that will keep the upgrade program intact at Boeing.

We talk about it on today's editorial page.