ST Engineering to invest $48m in Florida aerospace MRO facility

It will invest into the development of a 665,000 sqft complex worth $290m.

ST Engineering is pursuing the development of an airframe maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) complex at the Pensacola International Airport in Pensacola, Florida in an effort to expand its MRO business in the US, an announcement revealed.

In its statement, the firm revealed that the 665,000 sqft development is estimated at $290m, of which ST Engineering will invest $48m. The rest will be funded by the city of Pensacola, Escambia county, Triumph Gulf Coast Inc., the state of Florida as well as other state and federal organisations.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the new facility was signed on 27 October with the city of Pensacola which is represented by mayor Ashton Hayward. Under the MOU, ST Engineering and the city of Pensacola will develop the MRO complex which will consist of three widebody aircraft hangars and an administration building.

“The attractiveness of this investment is further strengthened by the strong eco-system and robust aerospace industry, supported by a ready workforce pool in the Florida panhandle region that we can tap on,” ST Engineering aerospace president Lim Serh Ghee said.

Florida clinched 6th place in 2017 for aerospace attractiveness according to PWC’s Aerospace Manufacturing Attractiveness Index, the announcement revealed.

“This US$210m project could produce an additional 1,325 direct, good-paying full time jobs with benefits as well as 3,400 indirect jobs - which may add more than US$400m yearly to personal incomes in our County,” Jeff Bergosh, chairman of the Escambia Board of County Commissioners, added.

The facility will be adjacent to ST Engineering’s newly opened 173,500 sqft MRO facility. The firm currently operates eight operational bases across US, Asia Pacific and Europe.