24 Sep 2001
BAE Systems will open a new civil aircraft modification, maintenance, and repair facility at Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA) in Victorville, California. The new facility will provide a full range of commercial aviation maintenance, refurbishment, modification and conversion services, and will become a major North American maintenance hub for commercial passenger aircraft.
In a long-term contract signed today between BAE Systems and the Southern California Logistics Airport Authority (SCLAA), BAE Systems agreed to lease two large hangars and associated office space suitable for a broad base of commercial aircraft applications. The contract also provided options for additional space in the future for growth, development, and expansion. The facility is located on property that used to be part of George Air Force Base, and was subsequently converted to commercial use.
"BAE Systems is a truly global company that provides excellence to our customers, and to do that we need excellent facilities and an excellent professional work force," explained Jim Modig, president of the BAE Systems Flight Systems. "We have found that excellent facility at SCLA and equally excellent employee potential through and around the city of Victorville. I believe we'll be extraordinarily pleased with this new partnership."
Modig cited SCLA's extensive infrastructure as well as expansion space, support capability, and Victorville's skilled pool of aviation workers as reasons for BAE Systems' selection of SCLA to house its civil flight services operations. The infrastructure includes a dedicated gas line, power plant, runways of 10,000 and 13,000 feet, and modern hangar facilities.
"We look forward to a very bright future for our new facility, SCLA, and the city of Victorville," Modig said.
BAE Systems will draw its potential employees from the substantial population of skilled aviation professionals that remains in and around Victorville from when SCLA was an active U.S. Air Force base..
"This agreement signifies a landmark moment in the conversion of George Air Force Base into Southern California Logistics Airport," said Terry Caldwell, SCLAA chairman and Victorville city councilman. "Southern California Logistics Airport is becoming a case study in the conversion of military bases, and is quickly fulfilling its promise as an economic engine for the City of Victorville, and the entire Inland Empire North region."
Dougall Agan, principal of Stirling Airports International, the master developer of SCLA, noted that, "Southern California Logistics Airport is now one of the premier aviation maintenance facilities in the world. BAE Systems is a global leader, and it speaks volumes that they chose SCLA for this major undertaking."
