Nextant Aerospace is opening a new office at Florida's Orlando Sanford International airport on the Constant Aviation campus. The action comes in response to increased demand for specialised aircraft engineering, design, drafting and analysis for all aspects of aircraft modifications and upgrades in the southeastern US.

“We are a global leader in aircraft and component remanufacturing and servicing, and have been a key provider of unmatched engineering service solutions to the private aviation industry,” says Mark O'Donnell, Nextant Aerospace's executive VP. “The opening of a dedicated Nextant office at Orlando Sanford will allow us to serve more customers in a part of the country with an abundant number of aircraft that will benefit from our offerings.”

In addition, Nextant is in the process of hiring professionals based on a robust pipeline of aircraft owner projects requiring:

- In-house aerospace engineering, design, drafting and analysis for all aspects of aircraft modifications and upgrades, applying Nextant's 13 years of experience as the first remanufacturer of business jets.

- Structural repair and component upgrades, including such critical elements as Beechjet and Hawker 400-type aircraft horizontal stabilisers, Challenger 300/350 engine inlets, Beechjet and Hawker 400 step reinforcement and Challenger 300 thrust reverser doors.

- Inspection services in the eddy current, ultrasonic, magnetic particle and liquid penetrant non-destructive testing (NDT) methods.

- Landing gear repair and overhaul; Nextant has completed more than 380 aircraft landing gear replacements and overhaul procedures on a wide variety of aircraft.

The presence of additional Nextant staff on the ground at Orlando Sanford will have further benefits, including a faster turnaround time for aircraft in need of avionics system engineering, structural engineering, design and drafting, aircraft and part certification, product support and services.

Nextant Aerospace was founded in 2007 by aviation entrepreneur Kenn Ricci as the first company in the world to introduce aircraft remanufacturing to the business jet market. Nextant engineers began with reimagining and rebuilding the Beechjet 400A/XP and delivered the first, rebranded as the Nextant 400XT, in 2011. The company became known as a global leader in aircraft and component remanufacturing, introducing several more reimagined aircraft. In 2017, it became a division of Constant Aviation, one of the USA's largest MRO businesses, giving Constant Aviation access to Nextant's engineering and production solutions. The move to the Constant Aviation campus in Sanford benefits both Nextant and Constant Aviation.

“The natural synergies that exist between Nextant's aircraft engineering, remanufacturing and tailored STC aircraft modification expertise, paired with Constant Aviation's maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities, have proven a powerful marketplace differentiator,” notes Constant Aviation CEO David Davies. “Having the capabilities of Nextant and Constant Aviation, functioning as a seamless platform, allows us to perform more jobs completely in-house, without costly and inefficient outsourcing, resulting in enhanced quality and far quicker turnaround for aircraft owners.”

Constant Aviation, along with the Nextant division, is in the process of growing its existing team of 115 at Orlando Sanford by 50 employees this year.

In the four years since acquiring its Orlando facility, Constant has added nearly 35,000 sq ft of hangar space and invested more than $10 million in physical improvements. An expansion of the paint shop added to Orlando Sanford's capabilities as a full-service MRO facility with the ability to service large cabin aircraft such as the Gulfstream 650, Dassault Falcon 7X and Bombardier Global. In 2020, Constant underscored its commitment to Orlando by extending the leases for its paint and interior modification facilities through 2028. The lease for its primary maintenance facility extends through 2030.

Constant, along with its Nextant Aerospace division, also operates facilities at Cleveland Hopkins International airport and a nationwide network of mobile technicians deploying from 24 strategically located base stations and providing dedicated maintenance, avionics and structure services. Nextant and Constant are both members of the Directional Aviation family of private aviation companies.