Wichita, which last week was left reeling by Boeing's closure of its site in the city, has been bolstered by additional investment from airframer Bombardier.
On 12 January in Wichita, state governor Sam Brownback called Bombardier's investment in Kansas a "mutually beneficial" relationship that would lead to further opportunities and growth. Bombardier will receive $16 million in local and state incentives.
Included in the project is the establishment of a centre of excellence for engineering and information technology, new facilities for paint and production flight testing, as well as a new delivery centre.
Bombardier first discussed the $53 million expansion, which is expected to bring 450 jobs to the facility over the next seven to 10 years, in November, while local and state funding was pending.
Although some initial flight testing for the new Bombardier CSeries narrowbody family may take place at the upgraded Wichita facilities, officials say the bulk of testing work for the twinjet remains scheduled for the flight test centre in Mirabel, Canada.
Bombardier builds or completes final assembly of the entire Learjet line in Wichita, as well as the Challenger 300 and Challenger 605 business jets. Starting in 2013 the company will add final assembly of the all-composite Learjet 85, the largest, fastest Learjet family member and the first all-composite aircraft to be certified under Part 25 rules in 2013. The wings and fuselage for the eight-to 10-passenger twinjet will be built at the company's facility in Querétaro, Mexico, and shipped to Wichita.
Company officials say the Centre of Excellence represents "an opportunity to grow" its engineering capability.
"We have a lot of engineering work planned in the near future and we want to grow the homegrown engineering talent in Wichita," said Steve Ridolfi, president of Bombardier Business Aircraft.
Source: Flight International
