Jungheinrich AG has officially handed over a fully automated logistics center to Deutsche Aircraft GmbH at Leipzig/Halle Airport, completing a critical infrastructure component for the upcoming D328eco regional turboprop production line.

The October 6, 2026 handover follows the recent inauguration of the manufacturer’s €100 million Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Saxony. According to a joint press release, the facility represents the first industrial deployment combining Jungheinrich’s PowerCube automated compact bin storage system and an automated very narrow aisle warehouse under a single control system.

Integrating automated logistics for aircraft assembly

The logistics center is designed to support Deutsche Aircraft’s “Factory 4.0” industrialization strategy, which emphasizes paperless, highly automated, and carbon-neutral manufacturing processes. The partnership between the two German companies was initially announced on October 14, 2025, with the goal of creating a highly space-efficient material supply chain for the D328eco program.

The completed facility utilizes two primary automated storage solutions managed by a unified control system. The Jungheinrich PowerCube, an automated compact bin storage system, occupies a footprint of just 210 square meters. Within this space, the system accommodates more than 6,500 containers stacked across 26 levels. This high-density storage is designed to manage the thousands of small components required for commercial aircraft assembly.

Alongside the PowerCube, Jungheinrich installed an automated very narrow aisle warehouse, designated as AutoVNA. This segment of the logistics center manages 624 pallet locations distributed across two aisles, handling larger components and bulk materials necessary for the manufacturing process.

Deutsche Aircraft Vice President Operations & Production Sebastian Böhnl highlighted the operational necessity of the new infrastructure.

As we prepare to ramp up production towards a capacity of up to 48 aircraft per year, the D328eco programme requires a logistics infrastructure that can scale alongside it. The Jungheinrich PowerCube and AutoVNA provide exactly that, ensuring every part is available when it is needed for assembly, all within a significantly smaller footprint than any other solution we evaluated.

Transitioning the D328eco to serial production

The handover of the logistics center is a direct follow-on to the official inauguration of the D328eco Final Assembly Line, which took place on September 29, 2026. The new production complex at Leipzig/Halle Airport spans 60,500 square meters and represents an investment exceeding €100 million.

The facility is engineered to support a maximum production rate of up to 48 aircraft per year once fully operational. To support this ramp-up phase between 2026 and 2027, Deutsche Aircraft plans to onboard approximately 250 employees at the Leipzig site. The logistics center will serve as the material heartbeat of this operation, ensuring that components flow seamlessly to the assembly stations as production scales.

The transition from development to serial production is running parallel to the aircraft’s certification campaign. In September 2026, Deutsche Aircraft completed both low-speed and high-speed taxi testing for the D328eco landing gear certification program. Engineering, flight testing, and certification activities remain centralized at the company’s headquarters in Oberpfaffenhofen, while Leipzig handles final assembly and customer deliveries.

Reviving regional turboprop manufacturing in Saxony

The opening of the Leipzig Final Assembly Line and its supporting logistics infrastructure marks the return of full-scale passenger aircraft assembly to the German state of Saxony after a gap of more than 60 years. Deutsche Aircraft, building on the engineering heritage of Dornier, is positioning the D328eco to capture demand in a specific market segment that has seen limited new clean-sheet or heavily updated designs in recent years.

The D328eco is a 40-seat regional turboprop based on the legacy Dornier 328 platform. The updated aircraft features modern avionics and is powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127XT-S engines. A key selling point for the program is its environmental operational capability, as the aircraft is designed to operate on 100 percent Power-to-Liquid Sustainable Aviation Fuel (PtL SAF).

The production facility itself mirrors the environmental focus of the aircraft. The Leipzig complex was constructed using wood-concrete hybrid materials and incorporates heat pump technology alongside extensive photovoltaic systems. These design choices align with the company’s stated goal of achieving a carbon-neutral production environment.

With the logistics center now officially handed over, Deutsche Aircraft will focus on integrating the automated systems into its daily assembly operations as it prepares for the D328eco’s eventual entry into service.

First Class Air has acquired and partnered with Oklahoma-based maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) provider Vertical Aerospace, adding a 226,000-square-foot facility and specialized structural repair capabilities to its growing aviation aftermarket platform.

The transaction, announced in an October 5, 2026, press release, significantly expands the Louisville, Kentucky-headquartered company’s in-house engineering and fabricated part manufacturing capacity. The deal marks a continuation of First Class Air’s strategic expansion following its rebranding earlier in the year, which unified multiple aviation aftermarket companies under a single corporate umbrella to provide comprehensive lifecycle support for aircraft operators.

Expanding structural repair capabilities

The integration of Vertical Aerospace brings specialized in-house repair processes to First Class Air. The Bristow, Oklahoma, facility is equipped with an autoclave and a clean room, alongside dedicated capabilities for phosphoric acid anodizing and cleaning. The site also features non-destructive testing (NDT), heat treating, welding, laser tracking, and advanced engineering and design systems.

Vertical Aerospace specializes in the repair and overhaul of nacelles, thrust reversers, and flight control surfaces. The company also handles complex composite and metallic structural repairs for cowlings, ducts, and exhaust components. These services support a wide range of commercial, cargo, and military aircraft platforms.

First Class Air Chief Executive Officer Isac Roths stated that the acquisition provides a highly experienced team and differentiated capabilities that complement the organization’s existing services across the global aircraft lifecycle.

“Our focus has always been on finding better ways to solve problems for our customers and keep their aircraft operating. By bringing Vertical Aerospace’s structural repair, engineering and fabricated part manufacturing expertise together with our existing distribution, MRO, DER, PMA, teardown and [exchange programs]…” Roths said in the press release.

Following the investment, Vertical Aerospace will maintain its operations at the Bristow facility. Founder and General Manager Tray Siegfried will continue to lead the Oklahoma-based team, ensuring continuity for existing customers and regulatory authorities.

Building an integrated aftermarket platform

The partnership with Vertical Aerospace represents the latest step in First Class Air’s strategy to build a comprehensive, nose-to-tail aftermarket platform. On April 19, 2026, the company rebranded from FCAH Aerospace to First Class Air. This move was designed to unify its specialized operating companies under a single integrated brand, streamlining its market presence and service offerings.

Prior to the October 5 announcement, the First Class Air portfolio consisted of five distinct entities: Cargo Repair, First Class Air Support, Cobalt Aero Services, Innodyne Systems, and Survival Products. Together, these divisions provide parts distribution, Designated Engineering Representative (DER) repairs, Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) manufacturing, aircraft teardowns, and component exchange programs.

Vertical Aerospace, which is distinct from the United Kingdom-based electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) manufacturer of the same name, was founded by Siegfried in December 2012. Over the past 14 years, the company has built a specialized niche in heavy structural repairs. The MRO provider holds repair station certifications from both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), as well as an AS9100 Rev. D quality system certification, which is a critical standard for aerospace manufacturing and supply chain operations.

AirPro News analysis

We view this acquisition as a direct response to ongoing supply chain constraints and maintenance bottlenecks affecting commercial and cargo operators. The aviation aftermarket and MRO sector has seen ongoing consolidation as platforms like First Class Air seek to offer comprehensive services to reduce maintenance downtime. By bringing specialized structural repair and fabricated part manufacturing in-house, First Class Air reduces its reliance on third-party vendors for complex composite and metallic work. The addition of a 226,000-square-foot facility with heavy industrial capabilities, such as autoclaves and phosphoric acid anodizing, allows the platform to capture higher-margin structural repair work that operators are increasingly looking to outsource to single-source aftermarket providers.

McFarlane Aviation has acquired Anchorage-based Airglas, Inc., integrating the specialized manufacturer of backcountry aircraft skis and cargo pods into its global distribution network while keeping production in Alaska.

Announced on September 30, 2026, the acquisition brings Airglas composite skis, heavy-duty nose forks, and fuel pods into the newly formed McFarlane Alaska brand. The move consolidates McFarlane Aviation’s hold on the ruggedized aviation modification market and provides Airglas with expanded international reach, according to the company’s press release.

Expanding the Alaska footprint

Airglas, founded in 1955, holds AS9100 certification and supplies equipment for general aviation aircraft, including Cessna, Piper, Maule, GippsAero Airvan, and Husky models. The company also manufactures specialized components for military rotorcraft, including the Boeing AH-64 Apache and Boeing CH-47 Chinook. Airglas currently serves customers in more than 30 countries.

Under the terms of the agreement, Airglas will maintain its manufacturing facility and workforce in Anchorage. McFarlane Aviation Chief Executive Officer Scott Still stated that adding Airglas to the company portfolio strengthens its commitment to the Alaska market and expands its general aviation and military business.

Adding Airglas to our family of brands strengthens our commitment to the Alaska market, expands our general aviation and military business, and advances our mission to keep customers flying. Wherever our customers fly, we want the equipment they depend on within easy reach.

Airglas Owner and President Shane Langland emphasized the importance of local production for specialized backcountry equipment. According to reporting by Aviation International News, Langland noted the acquisition provides a balance between local manufacturing and global sales.

We have spent decades building equipment for pilots who land where there is no runway. Joining McFarlane lets our team keep doing that work here in Alaska, while McFarlane’s distribution network puts our products in reach of pilots and mechanics around the world.

Consolidation in the backcountry market

The Airglas acquisition is the latest step in a broader consolidation of the Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) and backcountry aviation modification sector. McFarlane Aviation, based in Baldwin City, Kansas, has systematically expanded its catalog of Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) components through targeted acquisitions of niche aviation brands, including previous purchases of PMA Products and CJ Aviation.

In 2022, the company acquired Airforms, a manufacturer known for engine baffles and Cessna Caravan components. This strategy accelerated in early 2026. On April 21, 2026, McFarlane launched the “McFarlane Alaska” brand, establishing a retail and distribution hub in Palmer, Alaska. According to Alaska Business Magazine, this move consolidated the product lines of recently acquired Alaskan Bushwheels and Airframes Alaska.

Airglas products are now immediately available through the McFarlane Alaska distribution network. Aviation International News reported that the full Airglas catalog will be integrated into the main McFarlane Aviation global distribution system by late 2026.

Corporate restructuring under TransDigm

The rapid expansion of McFarlane’s backcountry portfolio follows a major corporate transition for its parent organization. McFarlane Aviation operates under Victor Sierra Aviation Holdings. On April 7, 2026, aerospace conglomerate TransDigm Group completed a $2.2 billion acquisition of Victor Sierra Aviation Holdings and Jet Parts Engineering.

Backed by TransDigm Group capital, McFarlane now offers more than 35,000 parts. The integration of Airglas adds specialized composite manufacturing capabilities to this portfolio, particularly in the niche market of aircraft skis and heavy-duty nose forks designed for off-airport operations. The acquisition allows McFarlane to scale Airglas production through its established global supply chain while maintaining the specialized engineering knowledge base in Anchorage.

AirPro News analysis

We view the Airglas acquisition as a clear indicator that TransDigm Group intends to aggressively scale McFarlane Aviation’s footprint in the specialized aftermarket parts sector. By rolling legacy, family-owned Alaskan manufacturers like Airglas, Airframes Alaska, and Alaskan Bushwheels into a single corporate structure, McFarlane is effectively cornering the market for ruggedized STOL modifications. Keeping production in Alaska preserves the brand authenticity and specialized workforce required for these components, while routing sales through a centralized, global distribution network maximizes margin and volume.