Dec 19

Dec 19 Governor Cooper Announces 475 jobs, $99.7 million investment in Lenoir County

Daniel Koechler, CEO of Aircraft Solutions receives a plate of commeration from N.C. Governor Roy Cooper at the economic development announcement at the N.C Global TransPark on Thursday. Aircraft Solutions USA Inc will bring 475 jobs to Kinston. Photo by Janet Sutton / Neuse News

Daniel Koechler, Aircraft Solutions USA Inc. CEO, speaks Thursday at the N.C. Global TransPark. Photo by Janet Sutton/ Neuse News

The true centerpiece of the North Carolina airspace corridor, the North Carolina Global Transpark gained considerable visibility within the global market for airspace industries Thursday afternoon.

Aircraft Solutions USA Inc., an aircraft recycling company, announced it plans to create 475 jobs and make a $99.7 million investment in Lenoir County

“We know that this is a positive step for our state,” said North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. “We know that this will help fulfill my mission for North Carolina to have a state for people who are better educated, where they’re healthier, where they have more money in their pockets and they have opportunities to live lives in purpose and abundance.

“I’m excited to announce this today.”

Cooper said the economic analysis revealed the annual wage would be $47,000 per year, well above the county average of $37,000. Over the next 12 years, Aircraft Solutions USA is expected to boost the state’s economy by $958 million.

Daniel Koechler, chief executive officer of Aircraft Solutions USA, said the Lenoir County Economic Development showed tremendous interest in the company. The county and state’s reputation to produce a strong skill force also played a role.

Aircraft Solutions USA plans to build one of the largest hangar systems (300 meters long, 128 meters wide, 40 meters high) in the world to defleet aircraft. Koechler said technology has allowed the company to recycle up to 96 percent of an aircraft, minus the liquid material such as hydraulic fluid.

“Of course, what we also want to do is set up some more facilities to use the materials that we gain from the aircraft,” Koechler said. “We want to produce stuff here locally instead of shipping all of the raw materials we gain from the aircraft to places like China. We want to create more production jobs here.

“We’re going to have a wide-body paint shop [and] eventually an aircraft leasing company. That is what is driving us to do it.”

Gov. Cooper said there are more than 200 companies and 400 aerospace suppliers in North Carolina. The Old North State is known as first in flight and has the second fastest-growing aerospace cluster in the nation.

He added the Global Transpark is a hub for aerospace in rural eastern North Carolina and stressed the need to work with community colleges to make sure that people learn the skills necessary to succeed.

“This announcement today of a significant investment made by Aircraft Solutions USA demonstrates not only the marketability of eastern North Carolina on the world stage, but also shows a continued commitment of your state and local leaders to secure private investment and job creation in Lenoir County and the surrounding area,” said Lenoir County Manager Michael James.

“The North Carolina Global TransPark is an important center of aviation excellence in our state,” said N.C. Senator Jim Perry.

“We welcome these new jobs and this significant investment to Eastern NC, and specifically Lenoir County. We are thankful for the teamwork that made this possible. Our regional delegation looks forward to working together to enable continued growth in the aviation sector.”

N.C. Representative Chris Humphrey said it’s a huge step for Lenoir County and region.

“[We’re] really fortunate to have a company of this stature to bring all this investment in and all of these jobs,” he said. “Hopefully, it will give Lenoir County and others in the region an opportunity to better themselves.

“This company could have gone anywhere in the world and they chose us. We have the infrastructure here to do what they need to do. Luckily, the state was able to step up. Lenoir County stepped up. Together, a lot of folks made this happen.”