The aerospace industry in West Virginia is estimated to provide more than $1 billion in economic impact annually and over 10,000 jobs. The North Central West Virginia Airport is the largest contributor to this success, accounting for more than 2,345 of those jobs and over $775 million in business revenue. Now, with the expansion of the MHIRJ West Virginia Service Center at the North Central Regional Airport Aerotech Business Park in Bridgeport, horizons are being broadened for airlines, employees at the facility and the people of the Mountain State itself.

A $20 MILLION INVESTMENT A $20 million investment from MHIRJ, the expansion will increase the current facility space by 100,000 square feet which includes two new hangars while also updating the existing hangars. With the expansion, the facility will boast a total of over 279,000 square feet. Expected to be fully operational in eighteen months, the project will create more than 300 new jobs, bringing the total number of employees at the Bridgeport Service Center to 800. GROW AND DIVERSIFY This exciting venture establishes a new state-of-the-art infrastructure for both regional airline customers while providing MHIRJ a platform on which to grow and diversify. To that point, the new hangars at the Bridgeport Service Center will be 41 feet high and as such, will be able to handle any type of single-aisle aircraft. “The CRJ Series fleet is the backbone of regional flying in the U.S., and we are proud to be the custodians of that,” saidIsmail Mokabel, Senior Vice President, Head of Aftermarket. “As the largest MRO serving the CRJ Series platform, we aim at creating continued value for our customers by exploring opportunities that will allow us to elevate our service offering,diversify our capabilities and expand our infrastructure.”

COLLABORATING WITH GOVERNMENT & EDUCATION With deep roots already established in West Virginia, the expansion marks another milestone in a strong partnership with local and state government that will drive economic growth for years to come. “Mitsubishi’s expansion at the North Central

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Regional Airport Aerotech Business Park is another round of fantastic news for the North Central Regional Airport and our entire state,” said U.S. Senator Joe Manchin

To meet the growing demand for aftermarket services and continue to offer world-class customer service, the MHIRJ Quality Assurance Team created an Apprenticeship Journal, which is the first registered apprenticeship program for aviation in the State of West Virginia. Upon completion, budding maintenance technicians receive their Airframe Certification and are ready to join the workforce. The Bridgeport Service Center is also a long-term pipeline to employment for aviation professionals via relationships with many universities and colleges in West Virginia.

With the aerospace industry expected to grow significantly over the next decade, the West Virginia Department of Education has also jumped at the opportunity to explore aerospace education. For example, the Marion County Board of Education recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Fairmont State University to start a dual credit aviation program for the county’s high school seniors. These courses would count as credits for both the student’s high school and with Fairmont State’s aviation program.

AN EYE TO THE FUTURE Currently, MHIRJ’s combined Service Centers can offer maintenance for up to thirty aircraft simultaneously, making MHIRJ’s Regional MRO infrastructure the biggest in the world. Part of a larger outreach strategy, this expansion comes in concert with other initiatives such as expanding MHIRJ’s Component Repair Capabilities, diversifying MRO activities to other aircraft types and launching a consulting service, (MHIRJ Aero Advisory Services) as well as projects to expand MRO activities once again to other aircraft types after 2023. With the expanded facility, MHIRJ is creating an even stronger bond with customers, employees, suppliers, the local community and the State of West Virginia that will last far into the future.

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