Essendon Fields Airport has strengthened its claim as Australia’s centre for excellence for business jet maintenance and operations, signing an agreement with U.S.-based Textron Aviation Inc. for a new purpose-built hangar.
The 3,343m2 Hangar 83 on Bristol Street will be used by Textron Aviation for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of Beechcraft, Cessna, and Hawker aircraft in the region. The facility will be more than double the size of the company’s current facility at Essendon Fields, increasing capacity to service more aircraft. It will be located on the airport’s Southern Apron, creating operational efficiency and streamlining operations by eliminating the need to use Essendon Fields’ jet-crossing.
The hangar is expected to immediately employ 13 highly trained aircraft engineering staff, seven support employees and three apprentices, increasing the number of aviation jobs at the airport. Essendon Fields Airport is the closest airport to Melbourne CBD and services employment-generating General Aviation sectors including emergency services, private aircraft charter, specialist component supply and aircraft maintenance.
Essendon Fields CEO Brendan Pihan congratulated Textron Aviation on the decision to continue investing in the region to support owners of Cessna, Beechcraft and Hawker aircraft by basing the new facility at Essendon Fields Airport.
Essendon Fields Airport is home to an extensive fleet of Beechcraft King Air aircraft, operated by the Royal Flying Doctors Service, Air Ambulance and Victoria Police Airwing. Numerous Cessna aircraft including Citation models are also domiciled on site, used by private operators for domestic and international charter,” said Mr Pihan.
“Essendon Fields is becoming known globally as Australia’s home for corporate aircraft, with around a third of the country’s business jets permanently domiciled here. All this activity in the air is serviced by an ongoing investment into our airfield, and in new facilities for aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul, alongside space for aviation engineer training,” he said.
“We’re thrilled to be part of Textron Aviation’s expansion, continuing our commitment to delivering employment-generating new aviation facilities. Our central location, unbeatable amenity and attractive environment continue to be a drawcard for operators in this sector,’’ he finished.
Located on Bristol Street, the new Hangar 83 building will be steps from the famed LaManna supermarket and café, as well as shopping and dining at Essendon Fields Central and accommodation at Hyatt Place Hotel and Event Centre.
Textron Aviation said in statement the new larger and modern facilities at Essendon Fields Airport are part of a wider service expansion in Australia, which included a relocation to a larger facility at Jandakot Airport in Perth and adding an additional parts storage facility in Melbourne to aid in fast parts shipping and availability.
“Investing in a new hangar at Essendon Fields Airport, as well as increasing parts inventory and team members in Australia, allows us to respond even faster to customers when they need support,” said Brian Rohloff, senior vice president, Customer Support, Textron Aviation.
“With more than 1,400 aircraft operating in the APAC region, we’re making this investment in direct response to customer feedback and an increasing demand for parts availability globally,” he said.
The new hangar was designed by Bruce Henderson Architects and Textron Aviation expects to be fully operational in the facility completed in early 2026.
- SHARE
- CATEGORY/TAGS
- Company News
- RELATED ARTICLES
