MESA, Ariz. (AP) -- The first phase of a $14 million aircraft maintenance center at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in Mesa has been finished.

The center will serve as the Southwest regional service center of Hawker Beechcraft Services, replacing the company's Van Nuys, Calif. location, which will close on March 31. It will be one of 12 facilities in the U.S., Mexico and Great Britain owned by Hawker Beechcraft Corp.

The Wichita, Kansas-based company conducted an extensive evaluation of places throughout the Southwest for the new center, Andy Plyler, vice president of Hawker Beechcraft Services, said in a statement Monday.

"Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport was far superior in terms of location, economic infrastructure and a customer-friendly business environment," he said.

Hawker Beechcraft is leasing 5.1 acres at the airport with an option to expand to 10.7 acres in the future. A 26,000-square-foot hangar acquired and improved by the company to accommodate customer maintenance work opened Monday.

A second 26,000-square-foot hangar plus 22,000 square feet of administrative offices is scheduled to open in November.

The center is offering airframe, avionics, engine and other maintenance support for Hawker Beechcraft's line of aircraft.

The initial phase is expected to bring 40 to 60 new jobs, with a later total of 110, according to Jennifer Allison-Ray, chairman of the Airport Authority Board.

Hawker Beechcraft is one of four aircraft service centers open or under development at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway. Others are operated or planned by Cessna, Embraer and CrownAir.

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Information from: East Valley Tribune/Scottsdale Tribune, http://www.eastvalleytribune.com

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