ROME — The shutdown of Premier Aviation Overhaul Center in Rome will cost 127 workers their jobs. In a legally required Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, Quebec–based Premier said 127 workers would be laid off Aug. 22. In letters to employees and officials, Premier said the shutdown was due to “the fact of a sustained […]
Get Instant Access to This Article
Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
- Critical Central New York business news and analysis updated daily.
- Immediate access to all subscriber-only content on our website.
- Get a year's worth of the Print Edition of The Central New York Business Journal.
- Special Feature Publications such as the Book of Lists and Revitalize Greater Binghamton, Mohawk Valley, and Syracuse Magazines
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
ROME — The shutdown of Premier Aviation Overhaul Center in Rome will cost 127 workers their jobs.
In a legally required Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, Quebec–based Premier said 127 workers would be laid off Aug. 22.
In letters to employees and officials, Premier said the shutdown was due to “the fact of a sustained lower revenue stream that cannot sustain the contractual obligations of the leased property and the utility costs at the business premises, and the continued failing health of the CEO.”
The letter continued: “We have attempted for an extended period of time to negotiate a reduction in rent and utility costs, but were unable to obtain necessary relief.”
The building is leased from 394 HRC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mohawk Valley EDGE, the area’s economic-development agency.
In an email to CNYBJ, EDGE President Steven J. DiMeo said the lease for Premier has been modified multiple times. “394 HRC was accepting less rent than what is currently required under the last lease modification that was approved less than two years ago,” he wrote.
“The decision to discontinue operations was primarily due to the fact that the owner has sold his other operations and his customer base is down to one customer and it is no longer feasible for him to attempt to maintain this operation. In addition, he is getting up in years and has health concerns, which also factored into his decision not to continue the business,” DiMeo said.
In an official statement issued shortly after Premier notified officials of the layoffs, EDGE said it was disappointed with Premier Aviation’s decision to close its Rome maintenance facility. “We have worked with Premier over the past seven years in its Rome operation. We will work with them on the transition and will coordinate with Oneida County and our workforce development partners on assistance to the employees impacted by this announcement and will work with Oneida County and Griffiss International Airport officials on the marketing of the hangar complex for aviation and UAS/UAV related opportunities.”
Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente said it was “disheartening” to hear Premier was closing and workers would be losing jobs. “Oneida County will do anything it can to help assist with this situation.”
Premier has facilities at Griffiss Business and Technology Park in Rome as well as in Canada.
The Rome facility has nearly 380,000 square feet of space in hangars and other buildings, plus a 50,000-square-foot paint hangar, according to Premier’s website.
Letters to employees notifying them they would be losing their jobs did not mention the opportunity to work elsewhere for Premier. However, the letters mention that “employees may possibly receive offers of employment with competitors. We will provide you with further information as it becomes available.”
Premier purchased the assets of Empire Aero Center in 2013, taking over space that company had occupied. Founded in 2002, Premier’s business is providing aircraft maintenance services including inspections, maintenance, modifications, and refinishing.
Premier has been a major employer of graduates from Mohawk Valley Community College’s Airframe and Powerplant Technology program. Program director Walter Constantini told CNYBJ earlier this year that some 60 percent of graduates of the MVCC program go to work for Premier.
Constantini also said that employment prospects were strong in the field, as industry growth and retirements among current workers are expected to create more than 100,000 openings in aircraft maintenance and overhauling in the next two decades in the United States and some 700,000 openings globally.
