Aviation company to add 300 jobs in Blytheville
by January 5, 2011 9:59 am 97 views
Aviation Repair Technologies (ART), an aircraft and component repair company, announced Wednesday (Jan. 5) a facility expansion at the Arkansas Aeroplex in Blytheville.
The Arkansas Aeroplex is a multi-modal transportation facility and is located on the former Eaker Air Force Base. This location is now a general airport and industrial park. ART began operations at the Aeroplex in 2008.
According to a statement from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, The company will invest more than $10 million in the project and will create 300 new jobs. Employment will be about 600 at the location when the new jobs are added.
“We are delighted to make a long term commitment to the further expansion of our operations in Blytheville,” Ben Quevedo, ART’s CEO, noted in the statement. “The quality of our talented and growing workforce, together with the central location and expansive facilities at the Aeroplex, has enabled us to attract a strong customer base by providing first-class service at very competitive rates.”
The expansion will focus on the growth of ART’s component repair operations and will include the development of a state-of-the-art machine shop and aircraft interiors and composites repair facilities.
ART’s principal activities in Blytheville include heavy aircraft maintenance, component repair, jet engine disassembly, and other maintenance activities for regional narrow body aircraft such as the ATR 72, Dash 8, Canadair Regional Jet, Embraer Regional Jet, MD80, and Boeing 737.
The company also provides maintenance for domestic and international airlines and aircraft leasing companies such as American Eagle, Bahamasair, AIRES, Dynamic Airways, Magellan Aerospace, and others.
“It was just over two years ago that we were here welcoming ART as the latest aerospace company to call Arkansas home,” Gov. Mike Beebe said in the statement. “That we are already returning to announce a doubling of the workforce is a testament to the strong relationship between Blytheville, Mississippi County and ART.”