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Chicago Rockford International Airport

  • Country/Region: Flag of United States United States
  • Telephone: +1 815-703-5319
  • Website: www.flyrfd.com
  • PAX: 189,000
  • IATA: RFD
  • ICAO: KRFD

AAR and RFD On Time and On Budget with Largest American Based MRO Operator

Rockford, Illinois, - By the time you read this, AAR Corp. and the Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) will have opened a $40 million Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, the biggest of its kind in North America, allowing for some of the world’s largest aircraft to be serviced efficiently and effectively in the heart of the Midwest. RFD is especially proud that this enormous project will be completed on time and on budget, bringing an initial 500 jobs to a region that is ripe for employment and serving as an example of RFD’s continued commitment to the cargo industry. The project’s 52,000 bolts; 1,000 tons of steel; 200,000 sq. feet of PVC; and twin hangar complex makes this one of the largest pre-engineered structures of its kind.

The MRO facility is expected to operate 24 hours a day and will service next-generation, wide-body aircraft. This will allow for scheduled and unscheduled service, modification and overhaul and all other support services for cargo, passenger and military aircraft.

“AAR has been a tremendous addition to RFD and the Rockford region,” says RFD’s Executive Director Mike Dunn. “The 500 skilled workers will soon enjoy natural light in ideal working conditions and our cargo customers will have an ideal location for distribution and maintenance.”

In collaboration with RFD, Sept. 16, 2015, Rock Valley College opened a $5.1 million aviation maintenance training center to better serve the region’s aerospace industry and send students directly from the college right to the MRO. In some instances, students will be able to begin their path to aviation professional in ninth grade in the local school system and end up on the tarmac at RFD after graduation.

“RFD’s new facility is changing the educational and business landscape not only of the airport grounds, but the region,” says Ken Ryan, Director of Business Development and Cargo, RFD

The Rockford region is a prominent hub of aerospace activity and aviation manufacturing in the country, boasting more than 200 aerospace-related companies and is home to a critical mass of tier-one aerospace suppliers including Boeing, Woodward, UTC Aerospace Systems and GE Aviation. The region’s rate of manufacturing employment is twice the national average, with more than 80 percent of Illinois’ aerospace workforce located in the Rockford area. In addition, the Rockford region’s logistics infrastructure is a global asset. Rockford, as part of the Chicagoland area, is recognized as a “best logistics site” for connectivity due to its air, rail, road, information technology & low cost of operations according to the Rockford Area Economic Development Council.

“This one-of-a-kind building is truly mammoth as an MRO facility,” says Dan Roskowski, President of the project’s architectural firm, Larson & Darby. “It’s impressive from the inside and practical for all kinds of repair.”

The region’s noted supply chain, which supports all aspects of the aerospace cluster including manufacturing, assembly, maintenance, repair and overhaul services, warehousing and distribution, was also a strong factor.

According to the Illinois Governor’s office, AAR chose Rockford due to its central geographical location, highly- trained workforce, cost effectiveness and access to a robust warehouse and distribution network. The round-the-clock facility will greatly expand the airport’s infrastructure and prove to be a game-changer for the region and those companies taking advantage of the facility.

RFD is the second largest hub in North America for UPS and has a 10,002 ft. primary runway with a CAT III ILS. The very modern 72,000 sq. ft. International Cargo Handling Facility on-site will become available in September 2016.