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Textron Aviation is set to build a new maintenance hangar at Essendon Fields Airport.
The 3,343-square-metre Hangar 83, slated to open in 2026, will be twice the size of Textron’s current maintenance facility at Essendon Fields, and will be located on the southern apron to eliminate the need for use of the airport’s jet crossing. Construction is scheduled to begin next month.
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According to Brian Rohloff, senior vice president of global customer support at Textron, the facility will employ 13 trained aircraft engineers, seven support staff, and three apprentices, and will support Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker aircraft in the region.
“Building this new facility to support the more than 1,400 aircraft operating in the APAC region demonstrates our commitment to providing the strongest combination of factory-direct maintenance and service solutions available for our customers,” he said.
“This investment will grow our capacity and help us to better assist customers with scheduled maintenance, modifications and aircraft-on-ground support.”
Brendan Pihan, chief executive of Essendon Fields, said the airport is “thrilled” to be part of Textron’s expansion.
“Our central location, unbeatable amenity and attractive environment continue to be a drawcard for operators in this sector,” he said.
“Essendon Fields Airport is home to an extensive fleet of Beechcraft King Air aircraft, operated by the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Air Ambulance and Victoria Police Airwing. Numerous Cessna aircraft including Citation models are also domiciled on site, used by private operators for domestic and international charter.
“Essendon Fields is becoming known globally as Australia’s home for corporate aircraft, with around a third of the country’s business jets permanently domiciled here. All this activity in the air is serviced by an ongoing investment into our airfield, and in new facilities for aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul, alongside space for aviation engineer training.”
The news follows Textron’s move of its Perth maintenance facility mid-last year to a larger space at Jandakot Airport, as well as the addition of 5,000 square feet of new parts storage in Essendon Fields.
“Investing in a larger and modern Textron Aviation Service Center facility in Perth allows us to grow our capacity and better assist customers with scheduled maintenance, modifications and aircraft-on-ground support,” Rohloff said in June.
“We take pride in enhancing the customer experience at all of our service locations to keep people moving and help customers evolve their aircraft to fit their missions.”
