Ground Broken On New Airport Facility, 400 Jobs

October 29, 2016

Friday, Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward, Governor Rick Scott, state and local officials broke ground at the planned major aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at Pensacola International Airport that will create 400 new jobs.

VT Mobile Aerospace Engineering (VT MAE) plans to build the 173,000 square foot facility which will sit on approximately 19 acres of property at the airport.

”Today’s groundbreaking marks a major milestone in this collaborative project,” said Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward. “With this project and the 400 jobs that come with it, we are solidifying Pensacola International Airport’s role as an economic driver of the city for decades to come,” Hayward said. “This project will secure a foothold for Pensacola in the aerospace industry and will spark the development of an aviation cluster in Northwest Florida.”

Design and construction of the $46 million dollar project is being made possible through a combination of funds from the State of Florida/Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), the City of Pensacola, Escambia County, VT MAE, and the Industry Recruitment, Retention and Expansion Fund.

Governor Rick Scott said, “Florida’s international airports help welcome millions of visitors each year and attract major job creators like VT Mobile Aerospace Engineering to our state. Last week, I announced that the Pensacola area added more than 3,000 private-sector jobs over the year, and today, it’s exciting to announce the creation of 400 maintenance and engineering job opportunities for local families. We will continue working with state and local partners to cut taxes, grow our economy and make Florida first for jobs.”

General (Ret.) John G. Coburn, Chairman and CEO of VT Systems, said, “This has been a project long in the making and we are excited to finally break ground on such an important milestone. We look forward to the opportunities that this facility will bring, both to VT MAE and the city of Pensacola.”
The maintenance facility will accommodate two Boeing 777’s, or four Boeing 757’s, or six Airbus A-320 sized aircraft. Bringing a new industry to the area, VT MAE will hire skilled personnel including Master Airplane Technicians, Aircraft Inspectors, Master Structures Technicians, Sheet Metal Mechanics, and Avionics Technicians. Local economic development agencies, local educational institutions, and VT MAE have worked together to implement training programs to create a sustainable workforce.

After groundbreaking, construction will last approximately 16 months, with the facility opening for operation in early 2018.

Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News