Piper Aircraft to expand Vero Beach campus with new service center

VERO BEACH — Piper Aircraft is expanding its Vero Beach headquarters with a new factory-supported service center that will handle maintenance and deliveries for customers across the Eastern United States, the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America.

The two-story facility will add more than 33,000 square feet of indoor space for maintenance work, new and preowned aircraft deliveries, customer lounges and offices, plus 11,000 square feet of outdoor service area. It will include seven indoor aircraft bays and four outdoor bays on the company’s existing 30-acre manufacturing campus.

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Groundbreaking is planned for later this year, with the center expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2027. That timing will coincide with Piper’s 90th anniversary in aviation.

The expansion is projected to create at least 20 new jobs, including technicians, A&P mechanics and support staff. Piper already ranks as the largest private employer in Indian River County.

“As we approach 90 years of aviation history, this expansion reflects our unwavering commitment to our customers and our home in Vero Beach,” said John Calcagno, Piper’s president and CEO. “Vero Beach is an excellent location for a state-of-the-art general aviation service center because it sits on a high-quality regional airport with heavy-jet capability and a strong existing aviation infrastructure, allowing us to provide top-tier service while avoiding the congestion and costs of South Florida’s major hubs.”

Ron Gunnarson, vice president of sales, marketing, customer support and quality, said the center will support Piper’s growing M-Class fleet. “Not only will this facility elevate the ownership experience for our regional customers, but the full spectrum of specialized, dedicated factory maintenance services will be unprecedented from routine annual inspections to heavy maintenance and one-off factory backed repairs.”

Piper Aircraft, headquartered in Vero Beach, manufactures single- and twin-engine aircraft, including the M-Class series, Archer models and a line of trainer aircraft.