Garrett/Piedmont Consolidating Engine Work

Over the next couple of months Garrett/Piedmont Hawthorne/Associated will be closing its engine repair facilities in Long Island, N.Y., Columbus, Ohio, and Springfield, Ill., consolidating these services at its facilities in Augusta, Ga., Houston and Los Angeles. In addition, the company’s Springfield operation will become a “center of excellence” for airframe and avionics work, interior refurbishing and aircraft painting. Disclosure of the consolidation followed just a week after Frank Klaus announced he would retire as CEO, effective September 30, although a company spokesperson told AIN that the two events are unconnected. Klaus led the integration effort of Garrett Aviation Services into The Carlyle Group, a U.S. private-equity firm that acquired Garrett in August last year. He was subsequently named president and CEO of the newly created joint company that also includes the former Piedmont Hawthorne Aviation and Associated Air Center.