KOPTER To Open Assembly Facility In Lafayette, LA - 120 New Jobs

HELICOPTER ASSEMBLY PLANT TO OPEN IN LAFAYETTE – 120 NEW JOBS

Photo Source: Kopter

After a false start six years ago, state economic leaders and government officials announced the return of a helicopter manufacturing operation to the Lafayette Regional Airport.

Kopter Group AG has agreed to base the production facility for its SH09 helicopter in Lafayette on the site of the former Bell Helicopter manufacturing plant.

According to the Louisiana Economic Development office, the company will create 120 new direct jobs with an average annual salary of more than $55,000, plus benefits. In addition, the company will make a $4.2 million capital investment to modify and equip a state-of-the-art, 84,700-square-foot helicopter assembly building at the Lafayette airport.

“This announcement comes at a pivotal time as we continue to work on the diversification of our economy,” said Lafayette Mayor-President Joel Robideaux. The location will also serve as the hub of Kopter’s business in throughout the western hemisphere.

“Kopter Group’s selection of Lafayette for one of the world’s most advanced helicopter production projects secures an even stronger position for Louisiana

in the aerospace industry,” said Gov. John Bel Edwards at a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 9. “We welcome Kopter to Acadiana, and look forward to the positive momentum this project creates for Louisiana.”

The SH09 is a medium-duty helicopter which can carry up to eight passengers and a payload of more than three tons. Kopter Group is based in Switzerland, with corporate and engineering offices close to Zurich. Kopter Chief Executive Officer Andreas Löwenstein said the Lafayette offices and assembly plant will be the heart of the company’s expansion to the Americas.

“We expect to gradually hire up to 120 local personnel by 2025 to produce around 100 helicopters per year, and support the growing fleet in the region,” Löwenstein said. “A significant number of additional jobs should be generated through suppliers that will join us around the airport to create a true helicopter industry in Lafayette.”

Some of those other components include composite parts from Kaman, Garmin avionics, hydraulic pumps from Parker Aerospace, external lighting by

Collins Aerospace and a turboshaft engine built by Honeywell. At least 50 percent of the value of the helicopters built in Lafayette will come from U.S. sourced components.

According to LED estimates, the project will result in an additional 157 new indirect jobs, for a total or more than 275 new jobs in Acadiana and surrounding regions.

The state provided $26 million in 2013 for a Bell Helicopter facility on the 14.7 acre site. After initial employment targets

were missed, the state renegotiated the deal in 2016, with Bell promising to employ 25 people in 2017 and 95 more in 2018. When the state ended the agreement in August of last year, only 22 people were employed at the facility.

Discussions with Kopter began in October, shortly after the Bell deal collapsed. To secure the agreement with Kopter, the state offered the company a pair of performance-based grants. One provides $1.2 million for facility modifications, payable at $200,000 in 2019 and $1 million in 2020, and another will grant $1.3 million for lease support, payable in five annual installments from 2020 through 2024.

Kopter will lease the state-funded facility from the Lafayette Airport Commission. “The state-of-the-art facility at Lafayette Regional Airport that will be Kopter’s new home will undoubtedly be a showpiece for the company,” said Gregg Gothreaux, head of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority. “Aviation plays a significant part in the region’s targeted industry strategy; and, we are excited about the quality employment opportunities Kopter will provide for our experienced aviation and manufacturing workforce.”

Kopter will begin hiring later this year, with formal helicopter assembly activity and deliveries scheduled to begin in 2021. Production will ramp up to an anticipated annual volume of 100 helicopters by 2025.