Science and Engineering Services opens aviation facility

HUNTSVILLE – Calling it a “great day to be here among good friends,” Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle helped cut the ribbon Friday on a massive hangar facility for Huntsville-based Science and Engineering Services.

Battle, SES CEO Ralph Pallotta, and Port of Huntsville CEO Butch Roberts provided comments during the ribbon-cutting festivities at the 111,000-square-foot newly constructed hangar. Fite Construction was the prime contractor on the project on on Wall-Triana Boulevard at the airport.

SEC is an aviation industry leader providing increased aviation capability, readiness and sustainment to the U.S. government and more than 30 foreign military partners.

“SES is a Huntsville success story,” said Battle. “We’ve watched the firm rise from a small manufacturing company over on Pulaski Pike to becoming a key supporter of PEO Aviation at Redstone and as an international leader in support of rotary wing and fixed wing aviation.

“It is a great day to be here among good friends and special guests to celebrate another milestone for SES and for the expanding aviation business at Huntsville International Airport.”

Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Huntsville, SES is a recognized industry leader in system development, maintenance, modification, reset, integration, training, and CLS support of rotary and fixed wing aircraft.

“This building provided us the perfect opportunity to do what we’ve been wanting to do and that our customers have been asking for – bring fixed-wing aircraft operations to Huntsville,” said Pallotta. “This location at Huntsville International Airport is perfect for us and provides enhanced security, and this building is equipped with state-of-the-art fire protection, heating and cooling. These are essential to protecting assets such as expensive, sophisticated, complicated aircraft for us taxpayers as well as the government.

“It’s been a wonderful addition, and we are really happy to be here.”

SES was selected by the Army to provide all UH-60M and CH-47F New Equipment Training with more than 3,000 personnel trained and has been the recipient of hundreds of UH-60A/Ls divested from the Army for FMS modification.

SES was the sole source standing up the entire UH-60A fleet for the Afghan Air Force, and through a Joint Venture, developed the TDP for the UH-60V and conducted initial production. For Boeing, SES receives all AH-64D aircraft from U.S. and FMS partners for remanufactured AH-64E production.

“It has been a pleasure to see the incredible growth of SES these past 15 years and the variety of military aircraft that come and go as they support operations around the globe,” said Roberts. “We are proud of our relationship and look forward to another great opportunity to support their business through this hangar.”