PERRYVILLE'S SABRELINER GETS ORDERS

PERRYVILLE -- Sabreliner corporation, headquartered in St. Louis, has received the go-ahead on its fourth delivery order to rebuild another 100 T-53 turboshaft engines.

The work will be performed at the Sabreliner Perryville facility, where more than 500 persons are employed.

The $14,541,300 order for the final 100 engines for the UH-1 aircraft engine rebuilding program was announced this week by three U.S. lawmakers from Missouri: Sens. Christopher S. "Kit" Bond and John C. Danforth, and U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson.

The original contract, awarded in 1989, called for the company to rebuild and test 100 engines for the first-year order and included second-, third- and fourth-year options for a total of 400 engines, with a contract worth about $58 million for the 400 engines.

"The options depended on two factors," said a spokesman for the firm. "The first was filling the 100-engines-a-year goal, and the second was the Army's satisfaction with the work," the spokesman said.

Sabreliner passed on both counts.

The company committed itself to delivering rebuilt UH-1 Huey helicopter engines to the Army's satisfaction faster than anyone else.

It delivered the first 10 rebuilt engines well ahead of schedule and completed the first 100-engine unit 60 days ahead of the proposed delivery date.

"This is an outstanding example of Missouri's industrial productivity, and the pride the men and women of Sabreliner have in their work," said Bond. "They are truly leaders in the field of aerospace."

"The news of this $14 million contract is great news for Sabreliner, Perry County and the surrounding area," said Emerson. "The new defense order will help the hard-working folks at Sabareliner flex their muscles once again by rebuilding the engines on the Huey helicopters. It means further economic activity and jobs in the Perry County region and Southern Missouri."

The completion date for the latest order is Aug. 5, 1993.

Sabreliner is a diversified aerospace service providing aircraft parts, engine maintenance and overhaul, and aircraft modification and refurbishment services to commercial and government users.

Over the past two years, Sabreliner has won eight competitive government contracts totaling more than $400,000 with options, including contracts from the Navy, Air Force and Army, along with several commercial contracts. In 1990, the firm constructed a new aircraft engine test facility, which can be used for final testing for a variety of turbojet, turbofan and turboprop engines.

The firm employs about 750 people, with more than 500 of them at the Perryville facility, which consists of 128,000 square feet under roof. The St. Louis distribution and data process center has 60,000 square feet under roof, and the St. Louis-Lambert Field facility includes 15.7 acres, including 11 acres of ramp space.