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Latrobe Regional Airport Board Expands Aircraft FactoryOutput of GA8 Airvans is set to increase from one per fortnight to one per week with the construction of an additional factory hangar by the Latrobe Regional Airport Board. By Latrobe City Council - 10th February 2004 - Back to News Airport Board Chairman, Richard Hancock, said Gippsland Aeronautics was fast becoming one of Latrobe City’s strategic growth industries and the additional premises were needed to facilitate that growth.
"Gippsland Aeronautics rents all of its production space at Latrobe Regional Airport from the Airport Board on a commercial lease basis," Mr Hancock explained.
"Over the years, we have constructed four production and maintenance hangars specifically for Gippsland Aeronautics, plus car parking and office space. This has led directly to the expansion of the company’s production to its current level."
Gippsland Aeronautics chairman, Gary Wight, said that the new hangar will be over 50 metres in length and will enable the streamlining of the GA8 production line. "The additional space will be used for a component workshop, improving efficiency, and the removal of the wing assembly function from our original GA200 production hangar," Mr Wight said.
"All of these developments are integral to the objective of building one plane per week to meet growing market demand. This will lead to an additional cashflow through the economy of over $1 million per annum and a growth in employment from our current level of 105 to around 135. The addition GA8 Airvans will be sold under the Civil Air Patrol contract with the US Government and to new markets in Europe. In addition, the Australian market continues to expand.
Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Graeme Middlemiss, said Latrobe City Council and the Latrobe Regional Airport Board had been delighted to support Gippsland Aeronautics through its transition from a research and development company to Australia’s only commercial passenger aircraft manufacturer.
"Gippsland Aeronautics can be justly proud of their success in domestic and overseas markets. It’s a success that the whole community can be proud of.
"This current expansion at the Latrobe Regional Airport once again shows that the potential for this company is limitless, and importantly for the community, it is another important step towards the creation of more sustainable jobs in the region," Cr Middlemiss said.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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