Flying high
StandardAero expanding, adding jobs to Slemon Park facility
StandardAero has announced it is adding a significant expansion to its Summerside facility. The development will result in a 30,000-square-foot expansion to its Slemon Park workshop and is expected to create an additional 80 jobs.
The company announced Thursday morning that it is creating three centres of excellence in Canada and specializing its Winnipeg, Man., Langley, B.C., and Summerside facilities. The company is moving its turboprop engine related work from its Winnipeg facility to Summerside, which will become the company’s centre of excellence for that type of repair work. Peter Turner, StandardAero president for airlines and fleets, said the change will increase the amount of engines that go through the Slemon Park facility annually from about 800 right now to more than 1,050.
“That’s a real large expansion in terms of what we’re going to be doing here,” said Turner. He added that this expansion is a testament to the Slemon Park facility’s reputation and quality of work.
“The investment in P.E.I. is a reflection of the executive team’s confidence in Jeff and his team being able to deliver this increase in throughput and
to be able to continue to service the customers the way they expect to be serviced.” StandardAero is based in Scottsdale, Ariz. The company purchased Vector Aerospace Atlantic, which was formerly Atlantic Turbines, in 2017. The company currently employs 465 people at its Slemon Park facility.
Jeff Poirier, vice-president and general manager for StandardAero in Summerside, said this announcement has gone a long way to assuage concerns from the local workforce about their shop’s future, given the sale.
Staff were informed about the expansion Wednesday. “Standard was one of our biggest competitors for 26 years, so the unknown was creating some uncertainty. So obviously with the news finally announced yesterday, it gives many people here the certainty of longtime careers and obviously 60 to 80 (more) people to join a great team,” said Poirier. StandardAero has already been working with Slemon Park Corporation, which is its landlord, to accommodate the expansion. Work to expand its current facility is expected to start soon and will be completed within six months. Hiring to fill the new positions has already begun.