This November, Aurora Flight Sciences, a Boeing company, is celebrating 30 years of manufacturing excellence in West Virginia. Since establishing operations in West Virginia in 1994, Aurora has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of flight, pushing boundaries with cutting-edge technology and fostering deep-rooted ties with the community.
Aurora’s West Virginia site specializes in advanced manufacturing, focusing on delivering high-quality composite components and sub-assemblies for the aerospace industry. Over the years, the facility has become a cornerstone of Aurora’s success, underscoring the company’s dedication to delivering precision and reliability.
Jason Batson is a lead technician at Aurora and has been with the company for 30 years.
Jason Batson, lead technician, holds employee badge number 24, and has been a part of Aurora’s West Virginia team since its establishment in 1994. “We’ve worked on a lot of cool programs over the past 30 years, with a lot of great people. It’s rare to find a place that invests so deeply in innovation and values its people and the local community,” said Jason. “I’ve had the privilege of watching this place grow from a small operation into a facility that’s working on some of the industry’s most exciting programs.”
Today, this facility is integral to Aurora’s mission to advance the future of flight through state-of-the-art materials and robotic manufacturing processes. Holding certifications for both the AS9100D quality management system and the National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program (NADCAP), the facility is trusted by top-tier aerospace customers and has earned a reputation for delivering first-time quality every time. Earlier this year, Aurora completed an expansion that added almost 50,000 square feet to the facility, supporting significant growth across both current production programs and new opportunities in the aerospace industry.
The Flexible Robotic Composite Manufacturing Cell (FRCMC) supports a wide range of manufacturing processes for mixed low to medium rate production programs.
“We are part of some of the industry’s most innovative programs, from the MQ-25TM Stingray and CH-53K King Stallion to NASA’s X-66 sustainable flight demonstrator aircraft and DARPA’s X-65 active flow control demonstrator aircraft,” said Luke Colville, vice president of Aerosystems and Manufacturing at Aurora. “I want to extend my thanks to the team that’s here and the hard work they put in every day; our customers that trust us to build quality products for them; and the greater Bridgeport community that helps us every day with what we’re trying to do.”
As Aurora marks this 30-year milestone in West Virginia, the company and its employees remain committed to advancing the future of flight by investing in the latest technology and top talent, setting the stage for another 30 years of innovation, excellence, and community impact.