$100 million, 300 jobs

Airplane manufacturer to launch new line in Brunswick

By Seth Koenig, Times Record Staff

7/23/10

BRUNSWICK — The founder of one of the most successful small aircraft companies in the world is planning to launch a $100 million airplane manufacturing project in Brunswick.

Base redevelopment officials, town leaders and state dignitaries assembled at Augusta State Airport this morning to announce the arrival of Alan Klapmeier, co-founder of Cirrus Aircraft Corp. Klapmeier’s new firm, Kestrel Aircraft, expects to ultimately hire more than 300 workers to build airplanes on Brunswick Naval Air Station property.

“It’s a $100 million deal and they’re announcing that they’ve selected Maine as the location where they will build these airplanes,” said Steve Levesque, executive director of the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority, the group guiding the civilian reuse of the 3,200-acre base.

“The other finalists were places in Kansas and Florida, both areas known for aircraft building, with Cessna in Kansas and Piper in Florida,” he said, claiming the high profile venture “puts Brunswick on the map” in aviation circles. “Other people will say, ‘What does Alan see in Brunswick?’ and they’re going to come knock on the door. There’s no question about that. There are big birds out there that will give us a second look and say, ‘What’s going on up there?’”

Klapmeier founded Cirrus in 1984 with his brother, and served as chairman of the company until last year. Cirrus’ SR22 model has been the world’s best-selling single engine airplane for the past eight years.

Klapmeier now plans to team up with British businessman Anthony Galley and others to form Kestrel Aircraft, which plans to manufacture a new model of six- to eight-passenger turboprop plane here. The aircraft is designed to be about 37 feet long with a wingspan of about 43 feet, and will carry a price tag of about $2.8 million per plane.

Today’s announcement unveils the first major private tenant for the base. The air station is being redeveloped for civilian use while the Navy shuts it down as a military installation. The MRRA’s top goal is trying to replace the 6,000-plus jobs being lost in the Navy’s departure.

The overall base closure process is not slated to be complete until May of next year, but MRRA officials say Klapmeier’s outfit hopes to move into the six-year-old, 174,000-square-foot Hangar 6 by November.

For that to happen, the Navy and Federal Aviation Administration must complete a study of the projected environmental impacts of MRRA’s redevelopment plan, which includes conversion of the military airfield for use as a civilian industrial airport. Federal law requires the completion of the Environmental Impact Statement before the Navy can transfer control of unused base properties for civilian reuse.

Authority officials have said they expect the study to be done in September or October.

Despite the pending paperwork, Levesque said Kestrel officials embraced the Brunswick location because of the available facilities, relatively uncluttered airspace, the nearby engineering expertise of the Navy and Bath Iron Works, and the cluster of local composites manufacturers.

Today’s announcement of Kestrel’s decision to open in Maine describes the company’s new JP10 as a “class-defining, state-of-the-art, composite turboprop aircraft.”

Levesque said Kestrel plans to hire between 50 and 70 employees, mostly engineers, this fall, and ultimately ramp up to a work force of more than 300 over the next five years.

“There’s a ripple effect to that,” he said. “These people will be living and shopping in the community, and these are good jobs. Engineers make good money.”

Baldacci reaction

Levesque said the company also will develop supply chains to support its manufacturing operation, and potentially create spin-off work for other local companies as well.

“The decision of Kestrel Aircraft Co. to locate their base of operations at Brunswick Landing is a testament to the diversely talented and sophisticated work force here in Maine,” said Gov. John Baldacci, in a statement. “The international appeal and worldwide demand we foresee for the Kestrel airplane will benefit jobs throughout the state, boost Maine’s economic competitiveness and showcase Maine’s world class innovation economy.”

“With some of the tough economic circumstances we’ve been dealing with in Maine, to talk about bringing manufacturing jobs to the state is really exciting,” U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, said during today’s announcement. “They could have brought this anywhere, but the fact that they chose to locate this in Maine and potentially create 300 new jobs couldn’t be more exciting.”

During today’s press conference to announce the deal, a prototype of the Kestrel JP10 stood behind speakers on the tarmac at Augusta State Airport. MRRA officials also unveiled artist’s rendering depicting Kestrel Aircraft’s operation in Hangar 6.