Aircraft stored at GSA Aircraft Services at the Roswell Inyernational Air Center include these Boeing 747s belonging to Atlas Air.
Roswell company also to add maintenance and repair division
Great Southwest Aviation is expanding its footprint at the Roswell International Air Center in two moves that together could add as many as 160 employees to its payroll.
GSA has acquired AAR Aircraft Services in Roswell and also will be adding a maintenance, repair and overhaul division to its operations. Company officials expect the MRO division to be in operation in three or four months.
The acquisition of AAR adds 100,000 square feet of hangar space to the company plant at the RIAC and triples the company’s workforce, adding 60 employees to the 30 now employed. The opening of the MRO division is expected to add another 50-100 employees.
GSA President Larry Jessen said he is excited about the opportunity to expand the 25-year-old Roswell company, which also manages the American Eagle flights between Roswell and Dallas-Fort Worth under contract with American Airlines.
“This is a big day for GSA, as it was 17 months ago when we received the contract to manage American Eagle flights, which has been a great success for this community and this region,” Jessen said. “I see a bright future here at the air center with the acquisition of AAR Aircraft Services.”
In addition to its management of the American Eagle flights, GSA currently offers general-aviation services such as flight training for private, instrument, commercial and multi-engine licenses; aircraft maintenance, including repairs, annual inspections and heavy maintenance; hangar space for storage of general-aviation aircraft; aircraft management for Cessna, Beechcraft and Piper planes; and jet and aviation gas refueling under commercial and government contracts.
The company’s new division, GSA Aircraft Services, will have the capability to offer aircraft storage, maintenance services and teardown operations for customers which include United Parcel Services, American Airlines, Atlas Cargo, Air Canada and several other companies, offering many advantages over off-pavement storage options.
GSA’s FAA 145 Repair Station Certificate allows the company to accomplish all storage programs, A & B checks and all associated maintenance on all airframes in which GSA currently is certified, including B727, B737, B747, B757, B767, A300/A319/320. DC8/9/10, MD80, MD11, CRJ 200/700, L1011.
Jim Cassidy, director of operations for GSA Aircraft Services, has managed AAR in Roswell for several years. AAR operated in Roswell from 1999-2009 before corporate officials decided to sell the Roswell unit. Cassidy called the expansions “an economic victory for GSA/Roswell.”
“This expansion takes us to a higher level in helping other businesses in this industry,” Cassidy said. “It strengthens our aviation/aerospace industry cluster to be even more powerful in attracting and adding new jobs and businesses to the state.”
Cassidy, seeing how successful GSA has been, said he is excited to be part of a success story for Roswell and New Mexico.