Marana, AZ, -- The Evergreen Air Center, the maintenance facility of Evergreen International Aviation, Inc., announced today that it will break ground at Pinal Air Park in Marana, Arizona Tuesday, April 18 at 3 p.m. on the construction of a new wide-body aircraft hangar with support shops. The 87,000-square-foot hangar will be the fourth in operation at the 1,200-acre facility. The hangar is expected to be completed in early 2007 and will add over 250 jobs to Evergreen Air Center's current workforce of 600 personnel, representing a significant economic contribution to Pinal County and the state of Arizona.
"With over four years of consecutive growth in our commercial aircraft heavy maintenance business, Evergreen Air Center has become the fourth-largest independent MRO [maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility] in North America and needs to expand so we can accept more work," says Bob McAndrew, President of the Evergreen Air Center.
This new hangar is larger than most so that it can accommodate the B747-400LCF (Large Cargo Freighter), a modified 747 which will deliver B787 wing and fuselage assemblies to Boeing. The LCF aircraft will be operated and maintained by Evergreen International Aviation under a multiyear contract with Boeing, providing stability and security for employees.
About Evergreen Air Center
Evergreen Air Center (EAC), based in Southern Arizona, is the largest commercial aircraft heavy maintenance and aircraft storage facility in the world. The three existing hangars, overhaul shops and 1,200 acres of ramp and storage area accommodate over 400 aircraft. For over 31 years, the privately owned company has been an FAA Approved FAR Part 145 repair station with an FAA Class IV Unlimited Airframe Rating (#ERKR675D). In addition to FAA certification, EAC is ISO 9001 registered and holds maintenance certifications from Europe, China, and many other international regulatory agencies. EAC offers various levels of heavy maintenance, storage and paint services on Boeing, Bombardier, Lockheed, McDonnell Douglas, Raytheon, British Aerospace, Embraer, and Airbus aircraft. Proud recipients of the FAA's Diamond Award, Evergreen Air Center continues to set the pace for the rest of the industry.
For more information, please call 520.682.4181 or visit www.evergreenac.com.
About Evergreen International Aviation:
Evergreen International Aviation, Inc. is a portfolio of five diverse aviation companies headquartered in McMinnville, Oregon. With international operating authority and a network of global offices and affiliates, Evergreen consists of an international cargo airline that owns and operates a fleet of Boeing 747s, an unlimited aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility, a full-service helicopter company, an aircraft ground handling company, and an aircraft sales and leasing company. In addition to these endeavors, Evergreen owns and operates Evergreen Agricultural Enterprises and is headquartered near the not-for-profit Evergreen Aviation Museum, home of the Spruce Goose.For more information about Evergreen, please call (800) 472-9361 or visit www.evergreenaviation.com.
