Oklahoma’s aircraft industry is getting another boost with this week’s announcement by Pratt and Whitney that it is expanding operations at Tinker Air Force Base.
The company made the announcement at the Paris Air show where Gov. Kevin Stitt and company representatives are among those from Oklahoma in attendance.
The firm said the expansion includes a multi-million dollar investment to upgrade existing facilities. The expansion will mean an addition of 100 new jobs at the sustainment operations at the Air Logistics Center located on the air base.
“This expansion gives us access to a talented workforce which will help us to continue to deliver on customer commitments,” said Kevin Kirkpatrick, Pratt and Whitney’s vice president of military engines sustainment operations. “Oklahoma City has been a great municipal partner and we are pleased to grow our operations here.”
The firm’s Tinker operations include work on more than a dozen engine types used by the Air Force such as the F-35, F-22 and C-17 aircraft.
“Aerospace has a $44 billion impact on our state,” said Gov. Stitt, “and we are working to further strengthen and grow this industry.”
He said he hopes to see the company expand even more in Oklahoma.
“As the site of the largest air depot in the U.S. Department of Defense, Oklahoma is a natural fit for companies like Pratt and Whitney.”