Sabreliner gets $40 million Boeing military contract

60 jobs in new Ste. Genevieve plant

By Jim Obert

Business Today

STE. GENEVIEVE -- Sabreliner Corp. has been awarded a $40 million contract to overhaul components for Air Force KC-135 aircraft. The aircraft are used for aerial refueling and cargo transport.

The Boeing Aerospace Support Center in San Antonio, Texas, part of St. Louis-based Boeing Military Aircraft and Missile Systems, performs the heavy maintenance on the KC-135 aircraft.

Terms of the contract calls for Sabreliner to overhaul essential components of up to 30 or more aircraft each year through 2007.

The KC-135 aircraft components, which include flaps, rudders, horizontal stabilizers, ailerons, nacelles, cowls, spoilers and oleo doors, will be delivered to Sabreliner's new 72,000-square-foot facility in Ste. Genevieve for overhaul.

Ron Herman, vice president and general manager of Sabreliner operations in Perryville and St. Mary, will supervise the overhaul project, which will take place in the former GrandPa's building at 1040 Rozier St. The facility is slated to open in late April.

Jim Meier, Sabreliner vice president of government services, said the company will hire at least 60 employees by mid summer. He said potential employees should be FFA-licensed airframe mechanics or graduates from technical school.

"The new facility is large enough to allow us to double the work volume, making future growth a very real possibility," said Meier.

Marv Harman, Ste. Genevieve County economic development director, said he began working with Sabreliner more than a year ago regarding warehousing space in the city.

"I had three available buildings here and began getting the word out to area manufacturers," said Harman, adding that Sabreliner officials looked at the buildings several times during the past year.

Harman said that last August manufacturing space, as well as warehousing space, might be required if Sabreliner was successful in its contract bidding.

"Our relationship was very much in place and local space was readily available when Sabreliner won the Boeing bid," said Harman. "Sabreliner and Boeing's expansion into Ste. Genevieve will bring excellent publicity for the community and county."

David Spong, president of Boeing Military Aerospace Support, said Boeing is pleased to have Sabreliner Corp. as "a key supplier in our important work in maximizing readiness and affordability of the essential Air Force tanker fleet."

Sabreliner Corp., headquartered in St. Louis, has been operating in Perryville since 1983 when Sabreliner purchased the business from Rockwell International. Aircraft modifications have been ongoing at Perryville Airport facilities for more than 50 years.

Sabreliner opened an operation at St. Mary in 1996.

The company provides maintenance and modification for a wide variety of corporate and government aircraft engines, systems and components. Sabreliner and its subsidiaries have annualized sales of about $250 million and employs 1,400 workers in nine facilities in four states.