Aerospace manufacturer invests $4.15 million to produce personal aircraft in North Carolina

Sovereign Aerospace has announced plans to begin manufacturing personal aircraft in Elizabethtown, North Carolina. The aviation management company will invest $4.15 million into the project, creating 33 new jobs for the surrounding area that include inspectors, mechanics, technicians, and administrative staff. Sovereign Aerospace will receive a $100,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund as long as job creation and capital investment targets are met.

In a recent quote, Ken Hadaway, COO of Sovereign Aerospace, said, “Sovereign Aerospace is excited to be an integral part in the development of the Elizabethtown Aerospace Industrial Park in Bladen County, North Carolina. Our partnership and collaboration with Ameravia, Inc., the sole-source importer of Vulcanair aircraft in the United States, has proven to be the cornerstone for expanding the footprint of aircraft manufacturing in North Carolina. We intend to engage the community with opportunities that exist today within the aviation industry. Through aviation training and job placement, we can mitigate the national shortfall of pilots and mechanics and help transition veterans and exiting active-duty military into careers within the aviation industry for anyone who is willing to pursue their dreams.”

N.C. Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders added, “As a small and veteran-owned business, Sovereign Aerospace embodies many of the values we seek to support North Carolina’s economic prosperity. The company’s commitment to training and employing highly skilled veterans mirrors our own commitment to growing and further developing our workforce as outlined in the First in Talent strategic economic development plan.”

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