New aviation facility in Shreveport will create more than 130 new jobs

Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins is looking forward to the potential job growth that will stem from the launch of a local aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul facility announced Thursday in the presence of local and state elected officials.

Perkins and Advanced Aero Services President Mike Anderson were on hand for the launch of the program held at the Shreveport Regional Airport.

The maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Shreveport will provide aviation maintenance and other services to airlines in North America and internationally.

Advanced Aero Services (AAS) is projected to create more than 60 direct jobs with a $49,600, average annual salary, plus benefits by 2021, with projections near 500 by year four and more than 1,000 by year six.

AAS is a portfolio company of the Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program (EAP), a public-private partnership between local government and BRF (Biomedical Research Foundation), to provide services to innovative startups that have high growth potential.

Perkins talked about the potential economic impact the program will have for Shreveport.

“No one is coming to save us,” Perkins said as he addressed the those gathered at the Shreveport Regional Airport Hangar No. 5. “The corporations that are around, it’s not very likely that they are going to swoop into our community or any other community for that matter to create economic development. They don’t come in to create economic development. They come in because economic development is happening. That’s why this morning is so important to our community. We as Shreveporters and people who are building businesses, we are doing it on our own and I guarantee we will be attracting those big fish to our city in the long term. But we’re doing exactly what we need to be doing, and this morning really highlights that.”

Those trained through the program, administered by SUSLA, will provide aviation maintenance and other services to airlines.

“We look forward to building out the aviation services offered at Shreveport Regional and making this region our base of operations,” Anderson said. “Advanced Aero Services’ mission is to provide a strong foundation of safe, high-quality MRO services through solid process, innovation and motivated employees.”

Future phases include plans to build a narrow-body MRO hangar that would boost employment substantially.

After establishing operations over the next two years, AAS plans to secure financing for a narrow-body MRO hangar that is expected to spur further growth to as many as 500 jobs by 2024 and 1,000 jobs later in the decade.

“Aerospace represents one of Louisiana’s key industries today, and an important sector for growing Louisiana’s economy in the future,” Edwards said in a statement. “In Shreveport, we have substantial assets that include the Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program and its assistance to AAS in finance and capacity building, and Southern University at Shreveport’s Airframe and Powerplant Maintenance Program to provide workforce talent. Here at the intersection of one of Louisiana’s greatest aerospace assets – Barksdale Air Force Base – and our emerging I-20 Cyber Corridor, we welcome AAS and its vision to create a center of excellence in aviation service.”

Perkins pointed out that Shreveport Regional is in close proximity to six major airline hubs serving North America and international destinations.

“Thanks to Barksdale Air Force Base and Southern University at Shreveport Louisiana’s Aerospace Technology Center, Shreveport has a well-trained labor force that is ready to support the expansion of this key industry. Louisiana Economic Development’s suite of incentives and the low cost of doing business in Shreveport make our area an attractive location for this growing industry,'' he said.

More: Edwards commits $10 million in capital outlay to Cyber Innovation Center