Aviation industry adding jobs in South Florida

The aviation business seems to be taking off in South Florida.

Two Broward County aviation service employers said this week they are expanding, and over the past five years, at least six South Florida aviation companies have pumped up operations and created jobs.

The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport's expansion and record passenger traffic is generating business, said David Coddington, a business development executive for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance. "More planes means more service," he said.

The industry employs 37,000 people at the Fort Lauderdale airport or related businesses, the Alliance said. Palm Beach County's aviation industry employs more than 10,000 people through 250 businesses including B/E Aerospace, a manufacturer of aircraft cabin products; Lockheed Martin, Pratt Whitney Rocketdyne and Sikorsky Aircraft.

CTS Engines, a jet-engine overhaul company, said Wednesday it is hiring workers at its new headquarters in Fort Lauderdale and has bought 45 acres in western Palm Beach County, where it will to test engines.

The company has 53 workers and expects to have 80 by the end of 2012, and 125 to 150 employees within two years, said Konrad Walter, president and former company owner. CTS maintains and repairs engines of DC-10s, MD-11s, 747s and other aircraft for airlines, manufacturers, freight companies and aircraft leasing companies.

The company purchased a 60,000-square-foot headquarters and operations center near Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport, which opens Friday.

CTS will hire technicians, engineers and sales people, Walter said. Salaries range from $35,000 to $100,000, he said.

In 2010, Walter sold CTS to Neff Management, which made a $25 million investment that is allowing the company to expand, he said.

"We travel all over the world....We send guys to Hong Kong, Germany, Dubai, China and Kazakhstan," Walter said.

Also on Wednesday, GE Aviation said it has expanded operations in Pompano Beach to 30,000 square feet, adding a research and development laboratory. It's part of a $20 million investment over the next five years.

No new jobs are being created at the company, which designs and manufacturers electronic power supply systems for military and commercial use, said spokeswoman Jennifer Villarreal. GE Aviation employs 40.

Other industry expansions in Broward include:

Brazil's aircraft manufacturer Embraer made a $17-million investment in a Fort Lauderdale aircraft overhaul center in 2007, creating 60 jobs, according to economic development officials.

Propulsion Technologies International, an engine component repair company in Miramar, created 150 jobs and made a $5 million capital investment in 2008.

Heico Corp., a supplier of aircraft engine parts, employs several hundred employees in Hollywood and is adding engineering and sales staff, a spokesman said.

Spirit Airlines, based in Miramar, has added more routes and flights. The airline employs about 1,500 in Fort Lauderdale.

In Palm Beach County:

Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky announced expansions in the past year, with Lockheed adding 50 jobs in Riveria Beach and Sikorsky adding 14 manufacturing and engineering positions.

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