Local company expands aviation capabilities with new hangar at Huntsville International Airport
On Friday, February 7th, Science and Engineering Services LLC (SES) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new 111,000-square-foot hangar and facility at the Huntsville International Airport (Port of Huntsville.)
SES is headquartered in Huntsville and specializes in modifying and integrating manned and unmanned aviation platforms, providing support to ground systems, and providing aviation training.
The new hangar facility (the company’s third in Huntsville) will allow SES to expand its fixed-wing aircraft modification and integration capabilities. This will enable the business to better support its clients, the U.S. military, and our nation’s foreign allies.
SES VP of Business Development Skip Sherrell, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Port of Huntsville CEO Butch Roberts, and SES CEO Ralph Pallotta all spoke at the event.
SES has long recognized the demand from its customers to bring fixed-wing operations to Huntsville.
“For the past several years, our customers have been requesting for us to bring fixed-wing business here, put our high-quality standards on those aircraft, and make things happen here in Huntsville,” Pallotta said. “This building provides us with the perfect opportunity to finally do what we’ve been wanting to do.”
According to Pallotta, the Huntsville International Airport is ideal for SES’ operations due to its long runways, ample ramp space, and strong security and support services.
“It’s really great for bringing in strategic aircraft that are very heavy, especially when we load ’em out in order for them to deploy overseas to support our soldiers, our sailors, our airmen, our allies,” Pallotta said.
The new facility is fully equipped with state-of-the-art firefighting, security, and lighting systems, as well as climate-controlled environments to ensure the preservation of sensitive aircraft systems.
“It gives us that added capability to work on sophisticated, complicated, expensive aircraft and to protect those assets for us taxpayers as well as for the government,” Pallotta shared.
Battle praised SES and said the company is a Huntsville success story “in triplicate.”
“We watched that firm rise from a small manufacturing company over on Pulaski Pike to becoming a key supporter of PEO (Program Executive Office) Aviation at Redstone and as an international leader in support of rotary wing and fixed wing aviation,” Battle said.
Battle was also enthusiastic about SES’ continued work and future success.
“I look forward to seeing what this hangar turns out over the months and years ahead,” Battle stated.
Roberts highlighted SES’ strong partnership with the airport.
“On behalf of our board and our entire team, we’re excited to be here today for this ribbon cutting,” said Roberts.
Roberts said SES is the airport’s largest tenant at their intermodal facility. He also expressed optimism about the company’s continued growth.
“As the mayor said, we’ve got a lot more property out here. We’ll just wait for your call,” Roberts shared. “And if you want to turn another cargo building into MRO (maintenance, repair, operations), we’re here and ready to work with you.”
SES’s new hangar represents a milestone for the company, reinforcing its reputation as a national aviation leader.
As the ribbon was cut and celebrations began, it was clear that SES’ impact on Huntsville’s economic landscape is far from over.
