Space Florida Announces Support of Aerion Supersonic’s New HQ at Orlando Melbourne International Airport

construction is expected to begin on Aerion Park before the end of 2020

675 new jobs and $300 million in private investment coming to Florida’s Space Coast

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Space Florida announced a multimillion-dollar investment in Aerion Supersonic to provide financing, structure and development assistance to build Aerion’s new global headquarters, “Aerion Park.”

Aerion Supersonic is planning to produce the AS2 supersonic business jet, the world’s first, at the manufacturing plant to be located at Orlando Melbourne International Airport on more than 60 acres of vacant airport property located at the northwest corner of MLB.

According to Space Florida, construction is expected to begin on Aerion Park before the end of 2020.

Aerion is prepared to reshape the general aviation industry with the AS2 – the first privately built supersonic commercial aircraft ever which is designed to reach speeds of over 1,000 mph with the ability to accept 100 percent biofuels.

The 12-passenger aircraft aims for Mach 1.6 with a supersonic natural laminar flow wing for a minimum projected range of 4,750 miles.

A $4 billion development cost is anticipated, for a market of 300 over 10 years and 500 overall for $120 million each.

Aerion Park’s integrated campus will feature facilities for support research, design and production for Aerion’s supersonic aircraft, which will create almost 700 new jobs on the Space Coast.

“We are incredibly honored and thrilled to bring this news to our community at a time when it’s needed the most,” said Greg Donovan, A.A.E., executive director at Orlando Melbourne International Airport.

“We are proud to be the location of the future where Aerion will innovate, create and introduce new technologies and products to the aviation industry worldwide.”

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Orlando Melbourne International Airport is an award-winning airport, named Florida’s 2019 Commercial Service Airport of the Year by FDOT and #1 Most Scenic Airport Approach in the U.S.A. by PrivateFly.com.

Located on the Central Florida coast, MLB serves nearly 500,000 passengers annually with current nonstop service to Philadelphia (PHL) and Charlotte (CLT) on American Airlines, and Atlanta (ATL) on Delta Air Lines.

“We are building the next generation of high-speed transportation networks that will revolutionize global mobility without leaving a carbon footprint on our world,” said Tom Vice, Aerion Supersonic Chairman, President & CEO.

“Our AS2 business jet – the world’s first privately built supersonic aircraft – is the first stage in that exciting endeavor. Having evaluated a number of potential locations for our new home, we are excited to partner with Florida and the Melbourne community to create a sustainable supersonic future.”

The decision to launch the assembly of the AS2 at MLB, located in the heart of Florida’s Space Coast, will allow Aerion to tap into the highly-skilled local workforce as well as attract some of the best aerospace talents in the world to Melbourne, Florida.

“The impact Aerion will have on our community and the state will be truly extraordinary,” said MLB Director of Marketing and Business Development Mark Busalacchi.

“In addition to the major workforce investment Aerion plans to make at the airport, there will also be hundreds of indirect jobs that will have a lasting effect in fueling our local economy.”

Airport officials have worked to recruit Aerion to Florida since December 2018 with collaboration between several economic partners including the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast, Enterprise Florida, Inc., Space Florida and the City of Melbourne.

“Brevard County is home to the pioneers of space exploration and now the pioneers of sustainable supersonic transportation,” said Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast President and CEO Lynda
Weatherman.

“Aerion Park raises the profile of the Space Coast as the premier site for the most innovative aerospace companies in the world and is an example of what can be accomplished, even in the most challenging times, when the EDC and its state and local partners work together.”

Aerion, the industry leader in supersonic travel, is pioneering a new generation of high-speed mobility solutions that significantly reduce the time and friction of travel while leaving no carbon footprint behind.

“Aerion is an excellent addition to our tenant base, affirming MLB as a global epicenter for the aviation, aerospace and defense industries,” said Melbourne Airport Authority Chairman Jack L. Ryals, C.C.I.M.

“They will also add an entirely new dimension to our airfield with leading-edge technology.”

MLB’s airfield has been completely revived over the last few years with three rehabilitated runways and a new air traffic control tower.

Additional taxiway and roadway improvements are on the way to accommodate Aerion’s operational plans thanks to funding support from Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Kevin Thibault and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

With the recent announcement of TUI UK’s arrival in 2022, plans are underway to invest millions of dollars into MLB’s terminal to provide an ultimate travel experience for all airport customers.

MLB has positioned itself on the global stage as an epicenter for aviation, aerospace and defense, home to Northrop Grumman, L3Harris, Embraer, Collins Aerospace, Thales, and now Aerion Supersonic.

For additional information, visit www.MLBair.com or follow @FlyMLB on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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