Planemaker Says More Room Was Needed To Handle Growth

Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) held a grand opening Wednesday celebrating the expansion to its aircraft completions facility in Little Rock, AR. The ceremony, attended by the nearly 900 employees, commemorated the growth of the HBC Little Rock Completions Center, which includes a 112,000 square foot expansion to the existing structure and the creation of over 400 new jobs.

Representatives with HBC state the new facility is central to the planemaker's standing as a leading manufacturer of business, special-mission and trainer aircraft. Supporting the company’s long-term strategic business plan, the more than $17 million expansion enhances existing operations and enables throughput to more than triple by the end of 2008.

A new 54,000 square foot hangar bay provides the necessary space for completions of the company’s Hawker 4000, Hawker 900XP and Hawker 750 business jet interiors. Extension of back portions of the existing buildings provides additional woodshop, upholstery, sheet metal and storage space. All areas throughout the facility are redesigned to optimize work flow.

"Our Little Rock Completions Center is pivotal to our growth strategy and will allow us to deliver more Hawker business jets to our customers worldwide," said Brad Hatt, HBC president, Commercial Sales. "This expansion is an investment in the future of our company as well as the Little Rock community, as we have created over 400 new, full time positions since our expansion announcement in April 2006. We are very pleased with our great team of talented individuals and the support of the community."

A major factor for the facility expansion was the space needed for completion requirements of the revolutionary new Hawker 4000 composite-fuselage super-midsize business jet, the flagship of the Hawker product line. The company recently celebrated its first delivery of the Hawker 4000 in June.

Increasing demand for the Hawker 750 and 900XP light-midsize and midsize business jets and growing fractional maintenance requirements also drove the expansion. The facilities were previously working at capacity.

The new facility’s design incorporates many features allowing for efficient workflow and world-class quality of its Hawker aircraft.  Additional plans will allow for an enlarged interior, cabinet shop and state-of-the-art wood veneer finishing area.

FMI: www.hawkerbeechcraft.com