VT MAE MRO Hangar at PNS

Project Description

In September of 2014, former Mayor of Pensacola, Ashton Hayward signed the final lease agreement between the City of Pensacola and VT Mobile Aerospace Engineering Inc. (VT MAE) for the development of a Maintenance, Repair Overhaul (MRO) Hangar at the Pensacola International Airport.

Per the lease, the City of Pensacola will construct an aircraft hangar complex on nearly 19 acres at the Pensacola International Airport and lease the facilities to VT MAE for a 30-year term. The original configuration was designed to accommodate two wide-body aircraft inside of a 160,000 square foot MRO facility. In 2015, the design configuration was expanded to 173,452 square foot facility and will now have the ability to accommodate either two Boeing 777's, four Boeing 757's, or six Airbus A-320 sized aircraft.

The new MRO Hangar at the Pensacola International Airport (PIA) has created 400 new jobs and brought a new industry to the area. VT MAE has hired skilled personnel including Master Airplane Technicians, Aircraft Inspectors, Master Structures Technicians, Sheet Metal Mechanics, and Avionics Technicians. Local economic development agencies, local educational institutions, and VT MAE have worked together to implement training programs to create a sustainable workforce.

By working with VT MAE, Pensacola will be able to create quality, high-paying jobs and cement Pensacola's position as a true contender for aviation and aerospace industry investments. This partnership aligns well with the City's regional goals to create a robust aerospace cluster and to improve business and job opportunities for the citizens of Pensacola and Escambia County.

Design and construction of the $46 million dollar project is being made possible through a combination of funds from the State of Florida/Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), the City of Pensacola, Escambia County, VT MAE, and the Industry Recruitment, Retention and Expansion Fund.

The newly configured MRO Hangar at the Pensacola International Airport broke ground on October 28, 2016 and after approximately 20 months, a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the grand opening took place on June 8, 2018.