Business aviation services company Comlux is looking to add new narrowbody and widebody hangars to its rapidly expanding VIP cabin completions and maintenance business in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The company is bidding to become one of the leading providers in the world within two years, capable of handling between nine and 12 aircraft simultaneously.
In October 2008 the Swiss firm acquired long-time US Federal Aviation Administration repair station Indianapolis Jet Center at Indianapolis airport, and in late April marked the facility's reopening following a sweeping refurbishment and upgrade with financial assistance from the state.
The plan saw Comlux split the business into two sections. Comlux America is a hangar and shop building that can facilitate the simultaneous completion of three aircraft cabins up to the size of Airbus A321 or Boeing BBJ3 VIP airliners. It is also moving into maintenance, after receiving Part 145 repair station certification.
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Comlux Aviation Services is a nearby Bombardier business jet maintenance center that was recently named an authorised service facility by the Canadian airframer.
"Thanks to our own integrated production line, including our brand new engineering department, we will be able to ensure the completion of four to six aircraft simultaneously without compromising on the quality," said Comlux USA chief executive David Edinger.
One Airbus A320 Prestige and one Bombardier Challenger 850 are in completion in the hangars, two additional VIP airliners will join them before the end of the year and work on a BBJ3 - Comlux's first BBJ completion - is expected to begin in November.
While details must still be thrashed out with the state, Comlux is looking to build another hangar to accommodate three to four more narrowbody aircraft under Phase 2 of its planned growth strategy.
"We would like to start building a narrowbody hangar in three months," says Edinger, adding that, under Phase 3 of the plan, Comlux envisions adding a widebody hangar that could accommodate two Boeing 747s.
Source: Flight International
