CRESTVIEW — L-3 Crestview Aerospace isn’t just growing, it’s in the middle of a major expansion. L-3, a defense contractor that provides aircraft modifications and fabricates and assembles parts and frames for various aircraft, employs more than 1,000 people. L-3’s Crestview office started hiring in June 2011 and has created 158 new jobs since then. Earlier this week, Gov. Rick Scott announced that L-3 plans to hire more than 150 additional workers within two years as part of a $13.7 million expansion. “After visiting L-3’s facility in October, I am proud they are continuing to help Florida’s families with the creation of 340 more jobs,” Scott said in a news release. “Florida is an aviation and aerospace leader because of the growth and innovation of businesses like L-3 CA. These are hundreds of jobs that will positively impact Florida’s communities — and is a great sign of Florida’s growing economy. About 80 percent of the new positions will be hourly production jobs, said Lance Martin, public relations manager for L-3. The remaining jobs will be salaried positions in the support functions. “Most of these are mechanical installers,” Martin said. “Most of that new work we’re getting is building aerostructure for aircraft, and that’s usually heavy mechanical installers and manufacturing-type employees.” Martin encouraged people interested in applying for a position to go to www.l-3crestview.com. L-3 Crestview Aerospace also is undergoing several improvements. Construction crews are upgrading a hangar to convert it into a manufacturing assembly facility to support new commercial business already under contract. That project is expected to wrap up in early 2013. Construction also is expected to start on a new administrative building in January. That will be followed by other projects expected to start in late 2013 and early 2014, Martin said. Contact Daily News Business Editor Dusty Ricketts at 850-315-4448 or dricketts@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @DustyRnwfdn.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: L-3 Crestview Aerospace to hire more than 150 workers