Big Flats, (NY) -
As production increases, a helicopter manufacturing plant in Big Flats is hiring. The production floor at Schweizer is filled up with Black Hawks and other types of helicopters.
The general manager, David Horton, tells us the idea to expand their building near the Elmira-Corning regional airport is still in the works.
But he can't share the details with us at this time.
However, Horton says other than their Black Hawks, they're getting more orders for these unmanned helicopters called the fire scout.
The U.S. Navy uses these helicopters to find pirates, drug smugglers and other crooks at sea.
Horton says that's part of the reason why they need to expand.
"Anticipating the growth of the fire scout program, very important program to our company here at Schweizer aircraft and once we get the firm orders from fire scout in multiple quantities that will afford us the expansion of the MDCC to do that kind of business here."
Horton says they've built and delivered 33 Black Hawk helicopters from scratch this year, compared to 1 last year.
Horton says they are currently hiring a couple of dozen 2nd and 3rd shift positions.
More than 1 thousand people are employed at Schweizer.
