Special to Iredell Free News
Jet East, a Gama Aviation Company, has signed an agreement to open a full-service flagship maintenance facility at the Statesville Regional Airport. This additional site will compliment Jet East’s current footprint which includes coast to coast maintenance bases and an expansive AOG network.
The new base is comprised of two state-of-the-art facilities with a combined 75,000 square feet of hangar space, 40,000 square feet of office and back shop space and an additional parcel of adjacent land for future growth.
The main hangar, which was built in 2004, is fully equipped with LED lighting, fall protection, and a fire suppression system for Jet East to take immediate possession. A secondary hangar provides the same appealing infrastructure and was built in 2007. The City of Statesville and airport officials have been working behind the scenes with the Jet East leadership team and are excited about the new partnership.
“We are extremely pleased that Jet East selected Statesville as the location for their newest maintenance repair and overhaul facility. This exciting partnership will bring additional corporate aircraft into the Statesville Regional Airport from all over the world. We look forward to a long-term relationship and the overall benefits it will bring to our community,” said Airport Manager John Ferguson.
Jet East has targeted the third quarter of 2023 as an estimated timeframe for launch. When fully operational, customers can expect full-service capabilities from the Statesville location, including every facet of maintenance, avionics, interiors, composites and structures. In addition, there are immediate plans to construct a brand-new paint facility at the site.
The company estimates bringing more than 250 jobs to the Statesville area. Key airframe types that will be the primary focus include Cessna, Gulfstream, Bombardier, and Embraer products.
“The facility at SVH offers an amazing opportunity for Jet East and allows us to expand our capacity, capabilities and reach within a key region of the U.S.,” noted Stephen Maiden, Jet East president and CEO. Maiden continued, “The facility is in impeccable condition. The energy for this new endeavor is high and this is truly a milestone moment for the Jet East team and the customers we serve and support.”