MRO & Manufacturing
Collins Aerospace Invests $40M to Expand Puerto Rico Operations
Collins Aerospace invests over $40 million to expand facilities in Puerto Rico, creating 525 new engineering and manufacturing jobs.
Collins Aerospace Announces $40 Million Expansion in Puerto Rico
Collins Aerospace, a business unit of RTX (NYSE: RTX), has announced a commitment to invest more than $40 million to expand and modernize its operations in Puerto Rico. The initiative, announced on February 23, 2026, by Governor Jenniffer González Colón, targets the company’s facilities in Santa Isabel and Aguadilla. According to the official announcement, the project is expected to create approximately 525 new full-time positions in engineering and manufacturing.
The investment marks a significant increase in the aerospace giant’s footprint on the island. With the addition of these new roles, Collins Aerospace projects its local workforce will reach nearly 2,100 employees. This growth will bring the total number of RTX employees in Puerto Rico to approximately 3,500. The expansion focuses on upgrading infrastructure, machinery, and equipment to support “end-to-end electronics operations,” ranging from initial design to final manufacturing.
Operational Upgrades in Santa Isabel and Aguadilla
The capital injection will be split between two primary locations, each serving a distinct function within the Collins Aerospace supply chain. The company states that the investment is designed to enhance support and delivery times for customers through the implementation of advanced manufacturing technologies.
Santa Isabel: Manufacturing Modernization
The Santa Isabel facility, which specializes in electronics and electromechanical components, will see significant infrastructure updates. The company plans to utilize the investment to optimize productivity through “scalable automation solutions” and “connected factories.”
According to the press release, the Santa Isabel location delivers a wide range of critical systems, including:
- Digital and controller systems (switches, system controllers, moving map displays).
- Electrical systems (high-power, motor, and signal-level controllers).
- Communications systems (radar systems, RF technologies, high-frequency transmitters).
Aguadilla: Engineering Growth
In Aguadilla, the focus remains on engineering services. This facility provides support across the entire product life cycle, including design, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) for integrated systems. The expansion is expected to bolster the site’s capacity to handle complex engineering tasks for the aerospace and defense sectors.
Strategic Partnership and Government Support
The announcement event, held at La Fortaleza in San Juan, highlighted the collaboration between the private sector and the Puerto Rican government. Attendees included Governor Colón, Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC) Secretary Sebastián Negrón Reichard, and Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company (PRIDCO) Executive Director Roberto Lefranc Fortuño.
Javier Ramis Rivero, vice president of global operations for Collins, emphasized the strategic importance of the island to the company’s long-term goals:
“Puerto Rico is a strategic hub for Collins’ continued sustainable growth. Our planned expansion will create a shared infrastructure focused on end-to-end electronics operations, from design to manufacturing, enhancing support and on time delivery for our customers.”
Javier Ramis Rivero, Vice President of Global Operations, Collins Aerospace
Governor Colón framed the investment as a validation of Puerto Rico’s industrial policy, noting that the expansion demonstrates confidence in the island’s talent pool and infrastructure. DDEC Secretary Negrón Reichard added that the project would have a direct impact on the creation of specialized jobs and the strengthening of the local aerospace value chain.
AirPro News Analysis
This $40 million investment reinforces Puerto Rico’s status as a growing hub for the U.S. aerospace and defense industry. The move aligns with broader “reshoring” trends, where major U.S. defense contractors seek to secure supply chains within domestic jurisdictions that offer competitive operating costs. By expanding “hands-on learning areas” and engineering capabilities, Collins Aerospace is likely leveraging Puerto Rico’s high output of bilingual STEM graduates, a critical resource for companies implementing Industry 4.0 technologies.
Furthermore, the involvement of PRIDCO suggests the revitalization of existing industrial properties, a strategy often used to maximize the utility of state-owned infrastructure while minimizing new construction lead times. This expansion places Collins alongside other major aerospace players on the island, such as Lufthansa Technik and Honeywell, solidifying the region’s aerospace cluster.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total value of the investment?
Collins Aerospace is investing more than $40 million in its Puerto Rico operations.
How many jobs will be created?
The project is expected to add approximately 525 full-time engineering and manufacturing jobs.
Which locations are being expanded?
The investment targets facilities in Santa Isabel (manufacturing) and Aguadilla (engineering).
What types of products are manufactured at these sites?
The facilities produce digital controller systems, electrical power controllers, and communications systems including radar and RF technologies.
Sources
Photo Credit: RTX
MRO & Manufacturing
Ornge Goes Paperless with Ramco Digital Maintenance Platform
Ontario air ambulance provider Ornge completes paperless maintenance transition using Ramco Systems, meeting Transport Canada compliance requirements.
Ontario-based air ambulance provider Ornge has transitioned its maintenance operations to a fully paperless workflow across all bases following the implementation of Ramco Systems’ digital maintenance platforms.
Announced in an August 25, 2026, press release, the transition utilizes Ramco’s Digital Task Card with eSign-off and the Mechanic Anywhere Mobile Application. The system supports Ornge’s fleet of Leonardo AW-139 helicopters and Pilatus PC-12 fixed-wing Commercial-Aircraft, meeting Transport Canada (TC) compliance requirements for digital maintenance sign-offs.
Modernizing maintenance execution
The shift replaces traditional paper-based task cards with a mobile-enabled system, allowing Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs) to execute and sign off on tasks in real time. The integration is designed to streamline turnaround times for the critical air ambulance fleet.
“In addition to helping us go paperless, Ramco’s Digital Task Card and Mechanic Anywhere app is well positioned to help us in our efforts to ensure timely maintenance turnaround times,” said Robert Zwanenburg, Technical Services Manager at Ornge.
Zwanenburg noted the importance of providing front-line crews with accessible tools regardless of their working location, ensuring that maintenance personnel can update records directly from the hangar floor or flight line.
Broader industry shift toward digital MRO
The Ornge implementation aligns with a wider aviation industry trend of adopting digital Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) platforms. Manoj Kumar Singh, Chief Customer Officer for Aviation, Aerospace & Defense at Ramco Systems, stated that aviation maintenance is moving toward a mobile-first future, citing the Ornge deployment as a practical example of this shift.
Ramco Systems has recently expanded its footprint in the aviation software sector. On August 24, 2026, the company announced a contract with Royal Jordanian Airlines to modernize its fleet maintenance and engineering operations. Earlier in the month, on August 20, 2026, FAA- and EASA-certified engine MRO provider Pem-Air also selected Ramco Aviation Software to manage its maintenance operations and transition toward paperless workflows.
AirPro News analysis
We view the digitization of maintenance records as a critical operational upgrade for specialized operators like Ornge. Air ambulance services require high dispatch reliability, and reducing the administrative friction of paper-based compliance can directly impact aircraft availability. Transport Canada’s acceptance of digital sign-offs enables operators to maintain strict regulatory Compliance while accelerating the return-to-service process for both rotary and fixed-wing assets.
Sources: Ramco Systems
Photo Credit: Ramco Systems
MRO & Manufacturing
Textron Aviation Earns CASA Part 145 Approval in Australia
Textron Aviation secures CASA Part 145 certification for three Australian service centers supporting 1,400+ aircraft.
Textron Aviation has secured Part 145 approval from Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), authorizing the manufacturer to provide factory-direct maintenance and overhaul services across its three company-owned Australian facilities.
Announced in a press release on August 26, 2026, the certification establishes one of the most comprehensive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) support networks in the country. The approval covers Textron Aviation service centers in Melbourne, Perth, and the Gold Coast, enabling the company to support a regional fleet of more than 1,400 Cessna, Beechcraft, and Hawker aircraft.
Expanding the Asia-Pacific footprint
The CASA Part 145 certification represents the culmination of a multi-year expansion strategy in the Asia-Pacific market. On January 6, 2020, Textron Aviation acquired Australian maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) provider Premiair Aviation Maintenance.
The manufacturer officially rebranded the acquired facilities to Textron Aviation Australia on June 12, 2024, integrating them into a global network that includes more than 300 authorized service facilities and over 40 mobile service units.
Earlier this year, on May 5, 2026, the company opened a purpose-built, 35,000-square-foot service center at Essendon Fields Airport in Melbourne. This new facility more than doubled the company’s previous maintenance capacity in the city, setting the stage for the regulatory approval required to operate as a fully certified OEM maintenance organization.
Factory-direct service capabilities
With the regulatory approval now in place, Textron Aviation can perform a wider range of services directly rather than relying on third-party MRO providers. The CASA Part 145 certificate verifies that the company’s maintenance organization meets Australia’s stringent aviation safety and quality standards.
The authorization permits the facilities to conduct routine maintenance, complex modifications, and full overhauls. It also enhances the company’s ability to dispatch aircraft-on-ground (AOG) support for operators experiencing unscheduled maintenance events across the continent.
AirPro News analysis
We view this regulatory milestone as a critical step in Textron Aviation’s strategy to capture more aftermarket revenue while tightening its relationship with Asia-Pacific operators. By bringing former third-party MRO operations fully under the corporate umbrella and securing the necessary CASA approvals, the manufacturer ensures that Australian owners of Cessna, Beechcraft, and Hawker aircraft remain within the factory service ecosystem. This localized, factory-direct model reduces downtime for operators and provides Textron Aviation with a stable, long-term revenue stream in a geographically isolated but highly active business aviation market.
Sources: Textron Aviation
Photo Credit: Textron Aviation
MRO & Manufacturing
Electra Invests $850M in Ohio Plant for EL9 Aircraft
Electra commits $850M to build an EL9 hybrid-electric aircraft facility in Springfield, Ohio, targeting 400 aircraft per year.
Electra has committed $850 million to build its first scaled manufacturing facility in Springfield, Ohio, where the company will produce its EL9 Ultra Short hybrid-electric aircraft. The investment is projected to generate 1,975 jobs in Clark County and marks the transition of the nine-passenger aircraft from development to commercial production.
Announced on July 21, 2026, at the Farnborough International Airshow, the agreement with JobsOhio and state officials places the new plant at AirPark Ohio, adjacent to the Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport. The EL9, which traces its origins to a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) class project, utilizes blown-lift technology to operate from unconventional spaces.
Production capacity and regional impact
The Springfield facility will initially support a production rate of 400 aircraft per year. Electra plans to eventually double this capacity to 800 airframes annually as the program matures and market demand dictates.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine highlighted the state’s historical ties to aviation and its current focus on advanced air mobility (AAM) manufacturing.
“Ohio is where flight began, and the Dayton-Springfield area has become the national epicenter for advanced air mobility,” DeWine stated in a press release. “Electra’s decision to bring nearly 2,000 new jobs to Springfield will be transformative for Clark County.”
Electra CEO Marc Allen emphasized the importance of the Ohio site selection for the program’s next phase, noting the region’s established aerospace and defense ecosystem.
“This agreement is the moment that our vision moves from demonstration into reality,” Allen said. “In Springfield and Clark County, we found the rare combination this next era requires: a ready site, a skilled workforce, a deep aerospace and defense ecosystem, and state and local leaders with the commitment and vision to build it with us.”
Aircraft capabilities and recent milestones
The EL9 Ultra Short is designed to carry nine passengers and requires a minimum runway length of just 150 feet for takeoff and landing. Electra refers to this operational model as “Direct Aviation,” targeting point-to-point transport using infrastructure such as parking lots, barges, and sports fields rather than traditional airport runways.
The aircraft’s development has accelerated in recent weeks. On July 10, 2026, Electra reached an initial certification milestone with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Five days later, the manufacturer finalized an agreement with Safran to develop and produce the TG600 Turbogenerator, which will power the EL9.
An August 25, 2026, feature published by MIT News detailed the aircraft’s academic roots, noting its evolution from a classroom concept to a fully funded commercial program.
AirPro News analysis
We view Electra’s $850 million manufacturing commitment as a critical indicator of maturity in the hybrid-electric aviation sector. While much of the advanced air mobility industry has focused on electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) designs, Electra’s blown-lift, fixed-wing approach offers a distinct payload and range profile while still minimizing infrastructure requirements. Securing a dedicated production facility with substantial state backing suggests the company is successfully navigating the transition from prototyping to industrialization, a phase that has historically challenged new aerospace entrants.
Sources: MIT News, Electra Newsroom
Photo Credit: Electra
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