Five years after losing DHL's domestic operations hub, the Wilmington Air Park is rebuilding itself. The latest project involves a new 105,000 square foot aircraft maintenance hangar, capable of housing planes as big as a Boeing 747-400 or 777-300ER.
The hangar is leased by Airborne Maintenance and Engineering Services (AMES), already providing maintenance, repair and overhaul services at the Wilmington Air Park. The company anticipates hiring 259 people because of the expanded hangar.
It also has a state-of-the-art 15-ton crane system to aid in the removal of total aircraft tail sections.
Ohio Governor John Kasich spoke at the Grand Opening Thursday afternoon. "I don't detect the people here are hopeless. Am I right? I think people are more hopeful. Is it (business) coming as quickly as we would like? No, of course it isn't."
Kasich says the air park has created 1,000 new jobs since 2011. He says Wilmington and Ohio will continue to pursue other business.
Other business at the Wilmington Air Park:
- UAS testing with Sinclair, business partnerships and Wright Patterson
- Continued marketing of 15 hundred acres, 2 fully functioning commercial runways, 150 acres of tarmac
