MHI RJ Aviation Group (MHIRJ) announced that it is expanding its Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Network with the opening of a new facility in Macon. The new facility will be located at the Middle Georgia Regional Airport and is part of MHIRJ's growing footprint in North America servicing the CRJ Series fleet.

The lease has been signed for two additional lines of maintenance, with the potential to grow that number to four, which would bring the total up to 40 lines of maintenance within the MHIRJ network. With facilities in Macon, Georgia; Bridgeport, West Virginia and Tucson, Arizona, MHIRJ is the world's largest Regional MRO.

"We are excited about this addition to our Service Center network as it confirms MHIRJ's position as the largest Regional MRO in the world and it allows us to provide better service for our customers," said Hiro Yamamoto, President and CEO of MHIRJ.

"We have experienced phenomenal growth in our business and are in the middle of a strategic expansion plan of our MRO infrastructure in the United States. The new Macon facility is MHIRJ's first investment in the state of Georgia and will allow us to expand our business and bring our operations closer to some of our key customers," said Ismail Mokabel, Senior Vice President and Head of Aftermarket at MHIRJ.

The new facility will add around 200 jobs in the local community at full capacity, for which MHIRJ will kickstart the hiring efforts immediately. "Our key priority now is hiring talented technicians and support staff to join the MHIRJ team," added Ismail.

"It's a great day in Macon-Bibb County to welcome MHIRJ to the Middle Georgia Regional Airport," says Macon-Bibb County Mayor Lester Miller. "Our airport has become a hub of aviation activity, bringing more and more companies here."

Robby Fountain, MBCIA Chairman. "The Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority is proud to have an international organization like MHIRJ choose our community to expand. Being located in the Aerospace Corridor and within a purpose-built hangar complex, we are well versed in the aviation industry and know MHIRJ will add to the successes of not only our community but the world as their facility becomes operational later this year. We are enthusiastic about the partnership with MHIRJ and proud to bring more #MaconOpportunities."