Montreal-Based Global Transportation Company Opens Facility in Macon

ATLANTA – Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that Bombardier Aerospace, a leading global transportation company based in Montreal, Canada, will open a facility in Macon in Bibb County.  The maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operation will service Bombardier CRJ100/200/700/900 aircraft at the Macon Airport, creating an additional 180 jobs over the next year and representing a two million dollar investment.  Bombardier will operate the facility formerly owned by Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA).

   “As Georgia continues to pursue excellence in the aerospace sector, the relocation of Bombardier to the state is a great step in that direction,” said Governor Perdue.  “I join with the Macon community and the Middle Georgia region in welcoming yet another aerospace industry leader to the state.” 

The facility will be operated by Bombardier Customer Services, and will complement the two Bombardier-owned commercial aircraft service centers in Bridgeport, West Virginia and Tucson, Arizona.      

“The investment in the Macon service center, as well as the new one at Schiphol, is evidence of Bombardier’s ongoing commitment to improve the maintenance support we offer our customers,” said James Hoblyn, president, Bombardier Customer Services & Specialized and Amphibious Aircraft, “and the 10-year contract with ASA is a testament to the quality we provide throughout our service centers.”

Georgia ranks eighth among U.S. states for aviation industry employment, with more than 80,000 employees in more than 500 operations statewide.  The state also has a ready pool of workers for the aerospace industry, thanks in part to FAA-certified degrees at its technical colleges and the Georgia Institute of Technology’s graduate aerospace engineering program, ranked second in the nation.

The Bombardier Macon operation joins a list of other industry-leading companies that successfully do business in Georgia.

“We have worked hard to maintain and expand industry in the Macon-Bibb County Community, and are therefore very pleased to have Bombardier conduct its operations here in conjunction with ASA,” said Cliffard Whitby, chairman of the Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority.  “This success reflects the quality of our skilled laborers and the cooperation and collaboration among community leaders.  We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship.”

The legendary CRJ100/200 aircraft, first of the CRJ Series family of regional airliners, was launched in March 1989. As of January 31, 2010, Bombardier had delivered 1,587 CRJ Series aircraft. CRJ Series aircraft are in service with more than 60 operators in 38 countries.

About Bombardier Aerospace

A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from commercial aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, systems and services, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2009, were $19.7 billion US, and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). Bombardier is listed as an index component to the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America indexes. News and information are available at www.bombardier.com.

Bombardier and CRJ100/200/700/900 aircraft are either registered or unregistered trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.

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