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South Carolina in running for military plane plant
By Dan McCue
Staff Writer
An executive involved in the joint venture to build Boeing Co.’s new Dreamliner commercial aircraft here said his company is considering sites on which to construct a $200 million facility to build cargo planes for the U.S. Army and Air Force.
Giuseppi Giordo, president and chief executive of Alenia North America, said his company is considering at least five states for the location of the plant. They are South Carolina, Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Pennsylvania and Texas.
Alenia North America and Dallas-based Vought Aircraft Industries are building a $560 million manufacturing center here that will make two large fuselage components for the Boeing Co.’s new 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
The plant, which is adjacent to Charleston International Airport, will open in July.
The Army and the Air Force want a light-cargo aircraft for war-zone transport missions and other short-range flights.
Giordo said Global Military Aircraft Systems, a joint venture between Alenia North America and L-3 Communications Holdings, located in New York, is hoping they will settle on the C-27J Spartan Airlifter, a twin-engine turboprop. An overseas affiliate of Alenia North America helped develop that aircraft.
Spun off from Lockheed Martin eight years ago, L-3 Communications Holdings made a name for itself in night-vision gear, secure communications and satellite controls.
About three-quarters of its business comes through military contracts.
A major player at L-3 is retired Army Lt. Gen. Jay Garner, who headed SY
technology before it was acquired by the former company. Garner took leave from the company when President George W. Bush appointed him to head Iraq’s interim U.S. military-led government. Paul Bremer, who left Iraq in June 2004 after the United States handed over sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government, replaced Garner.
Despite Giordo’s announcement, there is no guarantee that GMAS will get the contract, which is expected to be awarded sometime after May 17. Still, published reports suggest that the company will choose a preferred site in advance of that date.
“Things are moving very quickly,” he said.
After the 382-acre Vought-Alenia plant is finished there will still be 118 developable acres at the Charleston International Commerce Park, which is close to I-26, the Port of Charleston and Norfolk Southern’s intermodal rail facility.
Giordo has indicated that transportation capabilities, as well as the available labor pool, political support and economic development incentives will be the determining factors of where the new plant will be built.
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