Beaudet Aviation Bringing 75 Jobs, $2.5 Million Facility To Little Rock

Beaudet Aviation, a subsidiary of French-based JCB Aero, will locate a $2.5 million facility adding 75 new jobs to Central Arkansas.

Beaudet makes cabin interiors for jet airplanes and supplies services to Dassault Falcon Jet, which just broke ground on a $60 million expansion earlier this month.

The new facility will “expand gradually and add new shops” to its production center. Beaudet will be located adjacent to the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport.

“We wanted to be nearer to our American customers and especially to Dassault Falcon Jet and I admit I am very proud that Beaudet Aviation has been selected to take part in the completion of the Falcon Jet series,” said CEO Jean-Claude Beaudet.

The facility is expected to open for business in October. Beaudet, who only speaks French, told a Little Rock Chamber of Commerce audience that if all goes well, he hopes to expand to more than 250 employees in the coming years.

“In the long run, we would like to create the exact duplication of the company based in France or even bigger: being in America sort of gives you wings and you feel like you are going to fly. In a few years’ time, Beaudet Aviation would like to offer the widest range in terms of cabins and systems for VIP aircraft and commercial airlines and become completely autonomous, provide total completion in one place and even expand new facilities adjacent to the airport,” Beaudet said.

Headquartered near Toulouse, France, JCB Aero was founded in 1987 by Beaudet.

Aviation and aerospace manufacturing is a huge Arkansas export product, according to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. More than 9,000 Arkansans are employed by the industry in the state.