Brazillian Manufacturer Looks At Hangar At Jacksonville International Airport

Embraer is once again looking at a manufacturing facility in northeast Florida near where it had once considered building a spy plane.

The Jacksonville Aviation Authrority says Embraer is eyeing a vacant 40,000 square foot hangar at Jacksonville International Airport (KJAX) for an undisclosed project. JAA spokesman Michael Stewart told The Jacksonville Business Journal that it was not known how many jobs might accompany the project if Jacksonville is chosen, but that the company did ask JAA to give it an option on the hangar until the end of the year. Stewart said that option could be voided should another company make a firm commitment to the space.

Ebmraer spokeswoman Christine Manna told the paper that the company still considers Jacksonville the "location of choice" for its North American Defense activities.

Embraer had at one time considered building a spy plane at Cecil Field, a former Navy Master Jet Base on Jacksonville's west side which was closed by the military in 1993 and handed over to the city in 1999.

FMI: www.jaa.aero, www.embraer.com