CHANUTE, Kan. (AP) — Spirit Aerosystems, the company formed from Boeing Commercial Airplanes' spinoff of its Wichita operation, has opened a new manufacturing plant in southeastern Kansas.
Ribbon-cutting for the 55,000-square-foot plant in Chanute took place Thursday, although operations began more than a month ago. Spirit president and CEO Jeff Turner joined Gov. Sam Brownback and other officials for the ceremony.
The Chanute plant will perform small aircraft sub-assembly bench work for Spirit. The company's main Wichita plant makes airliner components for Boeing and other plane manufacturers, including fuselages and cockpits.
The new plant opened with 16 workers. The company eventually aims to employ up to 150 people. Employees are being recruited and trained through a partnership of Spirit, the state and Neosho County Community College.