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Aerospace & Aviation

Louisiana’s aerospace sector is poised for expansion, thanks to the state’s unique combination of superior infrastructure and logistics, abundant sites, expedited permitting, competitive incentives, the best customized workforce development program in the country and an established advanced manufacturing talent pipeline sustained by higher education partnerships.

Unlocking the Future: Louisiana’s Aerospace & Aviation Excellence

Louisiana’s aerospace and aviation sector dates back to the beginning of manned space missions and NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) in New Orleans. The state has been pivotal in shaping America’s space program, from the Saturn V rocket for Apollo 11 to the upcoming Artemis mission. The sector continues to thrive statewide, setting the pace for the industry.

Industry-recognized aerospace and aviation companies such as Arrow Aviation and Metro Aviation started in Louisiana while globally recognized companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Western Global Airlines have established operations in Louisiana and are benefiting from the state’s unique advantages.

The U.S. aerospace sector is considered the largest in the world and is one of the main suppliers of both military and civil aerospace hardware to the rest of the world. Aviation is one of the fastest-growing industries in the United States, and it has increased yearly at the rate of at least 14% despite challenges faced by the industry in recent years. The industry is also a world leader in advancing science and technology. Aerospace systems have a very high value per unit weight and are among the most complex, as measured by the number of components in finished products.

2024 Aerospace and Aviation Brochure

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A Business Climate That Helps Companies Soar

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Boeing

Employs 1,100 Louisiana workers, many at the Michoud Assembly Facility, where the company is the prime contractor responsible for assembly of two stages of the Space Launch System rocket for the Artemis space flight missions.

Lockheed Martin

Employs 280 specialists who are building the structure of the Orion Crew Capsule and other major components for the Artemis program at Michoud.

Northrop Grumman

Ranked 86th in Fortune 500’s 2021 list of America’s largest companies and operates a 900,000 square foot Aircraft Maintenance and Fabrication Center with nearly 450 employees and contractors in Lake Charles.

Citadel Completions

Provides aircraft maintenance and luxury interiors for Boeing and Airbus aircraft in Lake Charles.

Arrow Aviation

Specializes in maintenance, repair and overhaul of helicopters in Broussard.

Metro Aviation

A national medical transport helicopter completions and operations leader in Shreveport.

NASA

Labeled its Michoud Assembly Facility in eastern New Orleans—the agency’s only dedicated manned space manufacturing facility—“America’s Rocket Factory.”

Boeing

Employs 1,100 Louisiana workers, many at the Michoud Assembly Facility, where the company is the prime contractor responsible for assembly of two stages of the Space Launch System rocket for the Artemis space flight missions.

Lockheed Martin

Employs 280 specialists who are building the structure of the Orion Crew Capsule and other major components for the Artemis program at Michoud.

Northrop Grumman

Ranked 86th in Fortune 500’s 2021 list of America’s largest companies and operates a 900,000 square foot Aircraft Maintenance and Fabrication Center with nearly 450 employees and contractors in Lake Charles.

Citadel Completions

Provides aircraft maintenance and luxury interiors for Boeing and Airbus aircraft in Lake Charles.

Arrow Aviation

Specializes in maintenance, repair and overhaul of helicopters in Broussard.

Metro Aviation

A national medical transport helicopter completions and operations leader in Shreveport.

NASA

Labeled its Michoud Assembly Facility in eastern New Orleans—the agency’s only dedicated manned space manufacturing facility—“America’s Rocket Factory.”

Propelled by a Customized Workforce

Louisiana’s aerospace and aviation industries benefit from a robust, right-to-work workforce, with over 430,000 employed in manufacturing. The National Center for Advanced Manufacturing (NACM), established in 1999, pioneers advanced manufacturing for NASA and related industries. Nunez Community College’s curriculum aligns with Boeing’s Michoud Assembly Facility needs, while LED FastStart develops customized curricula and provides equipment to the Louisiana Community and Technical College System.

Additionally, four A&P schools in Louisiana, including Baton Rouge Community College, South Louisiana Community College, Southern University at Shreveport and SOWELA Technical Community College offer comprehensive aviation maintenance training. Louisiana Economic Development partners with the Louisiana Community and Technical College System to equip 12 campuses with 5-axis CNC machining centers. The state produces over 22,000 manufacturing-relevant graduates annually and promotes innovation through centers like the Louisiana Center for Manufacturing Sciences and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership.

Major Employers

Louisiana Incentives Push Aerospace to New Heights

Aerospace manufacturers will find a suite of highly competitive incentives designed to help their operations thrive in Louisiana.

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Enterprise Zone

Either a $3,500 or $1,000 tax credit for each certified net, new job created and either a state sales/use tax rebate on capital expenses or 1.5% investment tax credit for qualifying expenses.

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Industrial Tax Exemption

Property tax abatement for up to 10 years on a manufacturer's new investment.

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Research and Development Tax Credit

A tax credit up to 30% to existing businesses with operating facilities in Louisiana to establish or continue research and development within the state.

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Quality Jobs

Up to a 6% rebate on annual payroll expenses for up to 10 years and either a state sales/use tax rebate on capital expenses or a 1.5% project facility expense rebate for qualifying expenses.

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Browse Certified Sites

Louisiana Economic Development’s Certified Sites program boasts a strong commitment to shovel-ready business investment and a rigorous pre-qualification process. By declaring a site’s readiness for development, potential investors are made comfortable knowing that much of the startup work has already been taken care of.

Certified Sites Programs

The LED Certified Sites program qualifies industrial sites based on zoning restrictions, title work, environmental studies, soil analysis and surveys. These sites are 180-day development ready and have substantial due diligence studies performed to receive certification.
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Browse Certified Sites

To assist companies needing to make complex site identification decisions, LED has secured or has access to GIS maps for every region of the state — enabling project managers to locate suitable sites quickly.
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Success Stories

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Project Announcements

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