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.
ANN's Daily Aero-Term (11.29.25): Waypoint
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