Story ID: 
King Aerospace Expanding Operations to Arkansas
By: Jerry Siebenmark
Caption: The Dallas-based company plans to open in nearly 195,000 sq ft of hangar, shop, and office space at Northwest Arkansas National Airport.
Word Count: 297
King Aerospace is planning an expansion project to open a location in a third state and increase its work in specialized and advanced aircraft systems integration and modification projects on aircraft as large as Boeing 747s and 777s. The Dallas-based company—which operates an MRO and modification center for Boeing Business Jets and other VIP narrowbody and corporate jets in Ardmore, Oklahoma—has leased two, 58,368-sq-ft hangars at Northwest Arkansas National Airport (KXNA).

Its Arkansas facility will provide FAA Part 145 modifications, engineering, and integration services such as upgraded airborne defense and next-generation information systems for government or quasi-government widebody aircraft. Also included in the lease is 78,000 sq ft of engineering, shop, and office space.

King Aerospace founder and chairman Jerry King told AIN that even though the facilities it is occupying at KXNA had been vacant for about 10 years—they previously served as a completions and maintenance center for Ozark Aircraft Systems, the North American maintenance center for International Lease Finance Corp.—they were well maintained during that time. The hangars are receiving new LED lighting, paint, and security and fire suppression systems, the latter of which meets Department of Defense requirements.

“We looked all across the United States at different facilities and this one made sense to us because of its location,” King said. “We’re not far from Oklahoma City where Boeing military is located, and Tinker Air Force Base, which is a large buying center for government-type programs. This area has really been popular with people who once worked there because of the quality of life.”

The KXNA facilities are expected to be open for occupancy on May 1. King said his company expects to start out with 20 employees at KXNA and build upon that.