Louisiana: Ready to Soar

Wheels up! The aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul industry in Louisiana is expanding and poised for additional growth.

Companies succeeding in the Bayou State include:

• Aviation Exteriors Louisiana (AvEx), a 32-year-old company that began as a commercial aircraft painting business but now provides airframe maintenance and repair for aircraft of nearly every size 
• Citadel Completions, an interior completion and maintenance facility for luxury aircraft
• LandLocked Aviation, a commercial aircraft refinishing specialist 
• Northup Grumman, a national center of excellence for maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade of government and military aircraft

Louisiana is also home to two airlines that established operations in the state to care for their own respective fleets: Western Global Airlines and iAero Airways.

AvEx is located at Acadiana Regional Airport near New Iberia while Citadel Completions, Landlocked Aviation Services and Northrop Grumman are located at Lake Charles’ Chennault International Airport. Both airports feature hangars suitable for existing tenant operations and provide land to support future expansion. iAero Airways is located at Alexandria International Airport near Alexandria and Western Global Airlines is located at Shreveport Regional Airport in Shreveport. Both airports, as well as New Orleans’ Louis Armstrong International Airport and Monroe Regional Airport, also have room to support new businesses tied to the industry.

Two-year aviation maintenance training programs are educating the future aviation maintenance workforce at Baton Rouge Community College, South Louisiana Community College in Lafayette, SOWELA Technical Community College in Lake Charles and Southern University Shreveport. Louisiana also provides CNC machining training at twelve sites strategically spread throughout the State. 

Companies doing business in Louisiana benefit from the state’s competitive incentive program, which offers the comprehensive workforce solutions of FastStart, consistently named No. 1 in the nation by Business’ Facilities magazine; the Louisiana Quality Jobs incentive, which offers cash rebates to eligible companies that create well-paid jobs and promote economic development; and creative incentives that can be tailored to address needs. 

“Aviation partners can grow and prosper in Louisiana. Our business climate is thriving,” said Development Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois. “Companies prepared to soar should reach out to Louisiana Economic Development. We are ready to help your company find its next location – and thrive.”