Australian-owned C&L Aerospace has found a niche providing parts and service for the regional aircraft industry but it is now expanding its base. According to CEO Chris Kilgour, “We’re offering more services at our location in Bangor, Maine, moving into additional existing hangar space and building a new paint hangar. We’ve also purchased a pool of GE engines we lease out, are leasing out aircraft, and we’ve acquired aircraft from Pinnacle Airlines that we’re marketing to the industry,” he said.

The Maine facility provided parts and service for the Saab 340 and Bombardier CRJ200/700/900 and most recently began working on Hawkers; now it is pushing deeper into the corporate aviation sector. Kilgour added the combination of being on the East Coast and the lower cost of labor has made C&L Aerospace financially attractive to European operators. “We’re growing rapidly in Maine but my biggest challenge is talent. We’re looking for another 15 A&Ps right now but will need 50 to 70 over the next few years.” C&L Aerospace is headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, where it distributes parts for commercial and military aviation. The company has an additional warehouse in England and sales offices in Ventura, Calif., and Bucharest, Romania.