One of the largest aerospace systems providers in the world opened its headquarters in West Charlotte Friday. UTC Aerospace Systems designs and manufactures products like propellers and engines and was founded last year after several mergers and acquisitions. Executives say it expects to add about 50 more jobs in the next five years.
The newly-formed company, UTC Aerospace Systems resulted from a merger last year between multiple aerospace companies including United Technologies Corporation and Charlotte-based Goodrich. Goodrich already occupied three floors of a six-story building in West Charlotte. Now the new company occupies the entire building.
The company's CEO Alain Bellemare, says the nearby airport was a big draw.
"We have equipment on almost every aircraft flying everywhere around the world," Bellemare says. "So when we hear the sound of these beautiful machines flying out there, helping us to move from point A to point B, we like it a lot."
Guest speaker Governor McCrory reminisced about helping recruit an aerospace company called Coltec, during his first term as Charlotte mayor in 1996. Coltec later merged with Goodrich.
"How ironic that in 2013, where I just happened to be governor of North Carolina, another major move occurs and that's the incredible merger and acquisition between two great companies, Goodrich and United Technology."
UTC Aerospace Systems has 250 employees at its West Charlotte building. The company projects the number to be 300 by 2018.