Brasfield & Gorrie breaks ground on an expansion for Airbus’s helicopter division

A large group of people, some in construction vests and helmets, stand inside a spacious warehouse for the Airbus helicopter expansion groundbreaking ceremony with Brasfield & Gorrie.

Front row: Paul Young, Austin Winstead, Matt Quarnstrom, and Andrew Hannah of Brasfield & Gorrie; Melanie Bergier, Bart Reijnen, Niko Szodruch, and Jennifer Ogle of Airbus; and Jason Weeks of Brasfield & Gorrie celebrate the start of Airbus’s hangar expansion alongside teammates from both companies.

Brasfield & Gorrie recently broke ground on a $6 million hangar renovation on Airbus’s Grand Prairie campus. The expansion adds an annex building and converts an existing building into a helicopter blade repair shop with two custom paint booths. The increased footprint supports Airbus’s goal to boost local repair capabilities and volume, reducing turnaround times for the civilians, first responders and military clients they serve.

A white hard hat labeled "Brasfield & Gorrie" and a shiny metal shovel rest on soil inside a blue rectangular container, symbolizing the groundbreaking of the Airbus helicopter expansion construction project.

The groundbreaking featured comments from Bart Reijnen, Head of the North America Region for Airbus Helicopters, and Niko Szodruch, Airbus’s VP of support and services. Airbus VP, Strategy and Transformation Melanie Bergier, Airbus VP, Human Resources Jennifer Ogle, Brasfield & Gorrie VP and Division Manager Andrew Hannah and Brasfield & Gorrie Regional VP and Division Manager Jason Weeks also attended the groundbreaking, along with team members from both companies. U.S. Rep. Jake Ellzey later toured the site.

“Our team is really excited to be part of this important renovation and expansion project for Airbus Helicopters,” said Brasfield & Gorrie VP and Division Manager Andrew Hannah. “The blades repaired at this facility will be fitted to helicopters that fight fires, deliver aid and support the community in many other meaningful ways. We’ve been long-time partners with Airbus, and supporting their operations by doing what we do best continues to be a point of pride for us.”

Brasfield & Gorrie’s relationship with Airbus dates back to 2013. The two companies have collaborated on a dozen projects since then.

“The expansion of our North American blade repair hub is a clear signal of our dedication to the region,” said Bart Reijnen, Head of the North America Region for Airbus Helicopters. “We are significantly boosting our local repair capabilities in Texas, a move that will translate directly into faster service and increased efficiency for our helicopter operators across North America.”

Three men stand indoors; the man on the right holds a blue commemorative propeller blade labeled "Jake Ellzey Airbus," celebrating the Airbus helicopter expansion.

“I am excited to see this growth happening for Airbus and for North Texas,” said Congressman Jake Ellzey. “This expansion shows continued investment in our community and our people. From first responders to our men and women in uniform, the work done here will help keep helicopters flying safely and reliably. And I look forward to seeing the new facility support even more jobs, strengthen local capabilities and continue the proud tradition of excellence in Grand Prairie.”