Moses Lake chosen as Mitsubishi airliner test site

MOSES LAKE — Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation announced Monday it will begin testing its new airliner in Moses Lake next fall.

The Japanese aerospace company has partnered with AeroTEC, a Seattle based flight test engineering company, to begin testing three of its new regional aircraft, the MRJ 90s, at the Grant County International Airport.

AeroTEC announced it will construct a new 65,000 square foot, wide body aircraft hanger at the airport with construction set to start this October. Lee Human, president of AeroTEC, said Moses Lake was selected as the location for the new facility because of its superior flying weather, clear airspace, flat topography and long, wide runways.

"Moses Lake has become an important part of our company's future," Human said. "We are thrilled to be making a significant investment in Moses Lake with the building of our new hangar at the Grant County International Airport in support of the flight testing for Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation."

AeroTEC anticipated having about 80 to 100 employees on the ground during the testing period of at least three years.

— Staff report