2023 Annual Comprehensive Report

training. The addition of the new facility allows GTCC to expand training to approximately 900 students each semester. GTCC’s aviation program is one of the largest in North Carolina and serves as a model for other community colleges. The college recently added a fifth degree program to GTCC’s aviation training, aero structures manufacturing and repair, that will prepare students for specialization in an industrial and advanced manufacturing setting. Honda Aircraft Company , a division of Honda Motor Company, invested $155 million in 2006 to establish its world headquarters at the 133-acre campus at PTIA in Greensboro to include manufacturing, testing, training, maintenance and customer service facilities. Following 12 years of design and testing, the HondaJet HA-420, a lightweight seven passenger jet, received all required FAA certifications and sold its first HondaJet in 2015. Subsequently, HondaJet has received certifications worldwide and has established a dealer and sales network to provide service and support globally. In 2018, HondaJet unveiled and began delivery of their latest aircraft, the HondaJet Elite, providing improved flight range with an auxiliary fuel tank, increased payload, reduced vibration and cabin noise, enhanced avionics, and greater cabin space. In 2019, the company embarked on diversification of uses for the HondaJet Elite with the inclusion of medevac configurations in air ambulances. In September 2020, the company completed construction of a $24.3 million, 83,000 square-foot new Wing Production and Service Parts Facility at PTIA. The facility houses the new wing-assembly process for the HondaJet Elite, said to be the fastest, farthest and highest-flying plane in its class. The facility also provides capacity for more wings to be assembled concurrently, additional storage and distribution of service parts, a paint booth and office space. In 2021, for the fifth straight year, HondaJet was named the most-delivered aircraft in its class by the General Aviation Manufacturers Associations. The company delivered its 200 th HondaJet in December 2021 with an additional 17 HondaJets delivered in 2022. Additionally in 2021, the HondaJet Elite S was awarded the “Top Flight Award” as best new business jet by Aviation International News. In October 2022, Honda Aircraft announced the production of its new model, the HondaJet Elite II, which has an extended range and fuel capacity and designed to optimize takeoff and landing performance. In July 2023, Honda Aircraft announced its investment of $55.7 million to build its HondaJet 2600 aircraft, a new larger light jet, at its PTIA facility in Greensboro. The aircraft will be the first light jet built for transcontinental flights with seating up to 11 people. The project is expected to create 280 high-skilled jobs through 2027 at an average wage of just over $88,000. Honda Aircraft currently employs 723 full-time employees and an additional 93 contract workers. This project brings Honda Aircraft’s total investment in North Carolina so far to more than $335 million. Marshall Aerospace , based in Cambridge, England, is investing $50 million to build and operate a six-bay complex for aircraft maintenance, repair, overhaul and painting, with room for two additional bays. Marshall plans to start operations in early 2025 and over four years expects to reach total employment of 240, with a projected average annual salary of $74,566. In April 2023, City Council approved an incentive package for $240,000. Marshall has also received incentives from the N.C. Economic Investment Committee worth nearly $2.4 million over 12 years. HAECO Americas’ , formerly known as TIMCO Aviation Services, corporate headquarters is located at PTIA. HAECO provides aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul services, and acquired TIMCO Aviation services for $388 million in 2014. The company has over 1,600 employees at its five-hangar footprint at PTIA as well as additional employees at its interiors manufacturing facility in neighboring Davidson County. It services both wide-body and small body aircraft and is able to provide both high-end interiors for luxury airliners as well as more modest coach configurations. In addition to the four existing hangars in operation, HAECO completed a new $60 million, 250,000 square-foot hanger at PTIA in 2018. The City offered an economic incentive award of $400,000 to be paid out over five years if certain jobs are created. In July 2020, online retailer Amazon.com, Inc. began operations at its newly constructed one million-square-foot fulfillment center at Triad Business Park in Kernersville, located between Greensboro and Winston-Salem. The new facility employs approximately 1,000 employees and is within a couple miles of the FedEx Ground operation and within 10 miles of the FedEx air and sorting hub at PTIA in Greensboro. Additionally, Amazon signed a second lease in April 2019 for 38 acres in the Piedmont

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