New hangar at Punta Gorda Airport promises 200 new jobs

Now in its final stage of construction, NAS MRO Services will soon open a large maintenance, repair and overhaul hangar at Punta Gorda Airport, bringing about 200 high-paying jobs to Charlotte County. 

Economic Development Director Kay Tracy told county commissioners during an April 14 update that starting salaries for those positions begin at $75,000. She credited the aviation program at Charlotte Technical College, located at the airport, as a key factor in attracting the Miami-based aircraft component repair firm. 

Tracy said the school has become “a magnet for our top-tier targeted industries,” noting that students trained in airframe and powerplant mechanics and prepared for Federal Aviation Administration licenses will have opportunities for internships and eventual employment with NAS MRO. 

The state-of-the-art hangar will accommodate two large commercial jets at a time, including Boeing 767s, Boeing 737s and Airbus aircraft, for a range of maintenance, repairs and replacements across entire planes, including tires, engines, brakes and electronics, Commissioner Chris Constance said. 

NAS MRO Services chose Punta Gorda in part because of the aviation training pipeline, Chief Operating Officer Nestor Camacho said. He noted it is difficult to find airframe and powerplant-trained mechanics in Miami. 

“We hire mechanics but have to train them,” Camacho said. 

By contrast, Charlotte Technical College graduates are already trained and ready to enter the workforce, with the program located on Charlotte County Airport Authority land near the NAS MRO facility. 

The 5-acre site will include the hangar along with supporting aprons, offices and ramps. Camacho said when the land lease was signed in 2024 that the Punta Gorda facility would allow the company to provide full-service maintenance for commercial airlines and large jets. 

The company’s Miami operation is approved by the FAA and European Union Aviation Safety Agency to repair aircraft components, including airframe structures, powerplant systems, electronics and accessories. Those parts are currently sent elsewhere for installation. 

Camacho said the new facility will allow NAS MRO to complete the full scope of work in-house. 

Founded in 1997, NAS MRO Services has experience servicing aircraft from manufacturers including Boeing, Embraer and Airbus. 

The initial lease term is 30 years with three five-year renewal options. Under the agreement, the company paid $3,000 a month during the first six months while securing permits. After construction, it will pay $106,041 annually, plus tax, for the first five years. 

An opening date had not been announced as of April 17.