BAE Systems to open new aircraft maintenance unit at Victorville, California
BAE SYSTEMS TO OPEN NEW AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE UNIT AT VICTORVILLE, CALIFORNIA BAE SYSTEMS will open a new civil aircraft modification, maintenance, and repair facility at Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA) in Victorville, California. The new facility will provide a full range of commercial aviation maintenance, refurbishment, modification and conversion services, and will become a major North American maintenance hub for commercial passenger aircraft. In a long-term contract signed today between BAE SYSTEMS and the Southern California Logistics Airport Authority (SCLAA), BAE SYSTEMS agreed to lease two large hangars and associated office space suitable for a broad base of commercial aircraft applications. The contract also provided options for additional space in the future for growth, development, and expansion. The facility is located on property that used to be part of George Air Force Base, and was subsequently converted to commercial use. "BAE SYSTEMS is a truly global company that provides excellence to our customers, and to do that we need excellent facilities and an excellent professional work force," explained Jim Modig, president of the BAE SYSTEMS Flight Systems. "We have found that excellent facility at SCLA and equally excellent employee potential through and around the city of Victorville. I believe we'll be extraordinarily pleased with this new partnership." Modig cited SCLA's extensive infrastructure as well as expansion space, support capability, and Victorville's skilled pool of aviation workers as reasons for BAE SYSTEMS' selection of SCLA to house its civil flight services operations. The infrastructure includes a dedicated gas line, power plant, runways of 10,000 and 13,000 feet, and modern hangar facilities. "We look forward to a very bright future for our new facility, SCLA, and the city of Victorville," Modig said. BAE SYSTEMS will draw its potential employees from the substantial population of skilled aviation professionals that remains in and around Victorville from when SCLA was an active U.S. Air Force base.. "This agreement signifies a landmark moment in the conversion of George Air Force Base into Southern California Logistics Airport," said Terry Caldwell, SCLAA chairman and Victorville city councilman. "Southern California Logistics Airport is becoming a case study in the conversion of military bases, and is quickly fulfilling its promise as an economic engine for the City of Victorville, and the entire Inland Empire North region." More... -2- Dougall Agan, principal of Stirling Airports International, the master developer of SCLA, noted that, "Southern California Logistics Airport is now one of the premier aviation maintenance facilities in the world. BAE SYSTEMS is a global leader, and it speaks volumes that they chose SCLA for this major undertaking." About BAE SYSTEMS: BAE SYSTEMS is the truly global systems, defence and aerospace company. BAE SYSTEMS employs some 100,000 people and has annual sales of around £12 billion. The company offers an unrivalled global capability in air, sea, land and space with a world-class prime contracting ability supported by a broad range of key skills. BAE SYSTEMS designs and manufactures civil and military aircraft, surface ships, submarines, space systems, radar, avionics, communications, electronics, guided weapon systems and a range of other defence and commercial products. BAE SYSTEMS North America employs 22,000 people in the design, development, integration, manufacture and support of a wide range of advanced aerospace products and intelligent electronic systems for government and commercial customers. About Southern California Logistics Airport: Southern California Logistics Airport, the former George Air Force Base, is a 5,000-acre multi-modal business complex that integrates manufacturing, industrial and office facilities with a dedicated international airport. SCLA serves as the Western U.S. hub for SwissGlobalCargo, one of the world's largest air-cargo forwarders. Other international companies that call Southern California Logistics Airport home are Sumiden Wire Products and international giant BAE SYSTEMS. SCLA is a 24-hour, 7-day a week operation with no curfews. SCLA has on- site U.S. Customs, and has been designated a Foreign Trade Zone and a LAMBRA Zone by the federal government. About Stirling Airports International: Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA) is managed and operated by Stirling Airports International, a Laguna Hills-based full-service airport development company specializing in master-planning and major land redevelopment. With unmatched experience in airport development and operations, Stirling Airports International is led by partners Dougall Agan and Chris Downey. Agan and Downey have been responsible for over $2 billion in development activity on large-scale land development projects in Orange and Los Angeles Counties. For further information contact: Randy Morger, Information & Electronics Systems Integration, Tel: +1 603 885-2817 randal.e.morger@baesystems.com Issued by: BAE SYSTEMS, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384605 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947 www.baesystems.com ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/09/24/20010924BIT00950/bit0002.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/09/24/20010924BIT00950/bit0002.pdf