MELBOURNE, Fla. (Aug. 1, 2011) — The Melbourne Airport Authority board is scheduled to meet Wednesday to consider a long-term land lease for aircraft maintenance powerhouse MidairUSA.
MidairUSA’s parent company, Swiss-based Midair S.A., announced last year it would locate a major U.S. aircraft maintenance operation at Melbourne International Airport.
The proposed lease would provide approximately 23.6 acres of land on north side of General Aviation Drive adjacent to a proposed taxiway extension. The term of the lease is 40 years with two five-year options for a total of 50 years.
The proposed lease also gives MidairUSA an option to lease an additional 10 acres east of the site. That option is exclusive for the five years then gives MidairUSA the right of first refusal for an additional five years.
MidairUSA has been working from temporary facilities at the airport since February and has hired 68 employees of a projected work force of 450. It plans to build a multi-million-dollar facility that will include two hangar bays designed to accommodate Boeing 747-400 aircraft for interior reconfigurations, as well as extensive maintenance, repair, painting and overhaul functions.
“We’re pleased to have worked out the details of this long-term lease with MidairUSA, and we’re eager to see construction begin on their new home,” said Larry Wuensch, the airport’s director of land development.
The MidairUSA project, which was heavily courted by a number of locations nationally, was landed through the joint efforts of the airport, the city of Melbourne, the state of Florida, the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast and other local community organizations. A number of key state and federal elected officials also were involved.
About Melbourne International Airport
Melbourne International Airport serves east Central Florida, including Brevard and Indian River counties, and is responsible for generating more than $1 billion per year in economic activity. The airport, which has three runways and a 200,000-square-foot terminal, currently serves Delta Air Lines, Delta Connection, Direct Air, US Airways, Baer Air and AirGate Aviation. For more information, visit www.mlbair.com.
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