BRANCH OF SWISSAIR EYES PALMDALE SITE.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

California's reputation for being unfriendly to aerospace nearly cost Palmdale an opportunity to be considered as the site of an aircraft maintenance center - and the potential 5,000 to 7,000 jobs that will come with it.

SR Technics, a branch of Swissair, had initially discounted California altogether as a potential site because of the state's reputation for being heavily regulated. Company officials believed that California officials didn't fight for the thousands of aerospace jobs that had been transferred to other states and that the state had heavy environmental restrictions.

It was only after a friend recommended Palmdale that California sites were considered, said Michael Rodyniuk, director of business alliances for SR Technics.

``While initially reluctant, I am pleasantly surprised with the changes in California,'' Rodyniuk said in an e-mail response to Daily News questions. He cited personal efforts from Gov. Gray Davis and a package put together by state and Palmdale officials for changing the company's opinion.

SR Technics looked at sites in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Victorville, as well as sites in Alabama, Florida, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington state.

``The most serious contender in California appears to be Palmdale for a number of reasons,'' Rodyniuk said. ``Its association with Los Angeles (World Airports), proximity, standard and cost of living, climate, existing facilities, surplus work force, industry associations at Plant 42, all suggest that there could very possibly be a good fit at Palmdale.''

SR Technics is looking at Boeing's Site 9, the aircraft manufacturing and maintenance plant where the B-1B bombers were built in the 1980s.

SR Technics is looking to establish the modification and repair center in a fair-weather city. The site requirements include access to a large facility able to accommodate jetliners, including such aircraft as the Boeing 747-400, the Boeing 767, the Boeing 777, and the Aerobus A-330 and A-340.

SR Technics is also looking for a region that is aerospace-friendly, has an available skilled work force and a low cost of living.

The Antelope Valley, which is known as ``Aerospace Valley'' for its long history of aviation work, averages 345 days of clear flying weather.

The center will conduct modifications, scheduled heavy maintenance, repairs, overhauls, paint and avionics upgrades for jetliners.

``Initially our numbers will be in the hundreds (of employees),'' Rodyniuk said. ``With our five-year strategic plan, coupled with alliance discussions currently under way with significant U.S. partners, I am confident the numbers will be well into the thousands by 2005.''

Palmdale city officials said they have heard employment estimates ranging from 5,000 to 7,000 workers.

The company expects to select a site next month and to open its maintenance center by June. Rodyniuk said the company hopes to eventually service airplanes from multiple airlines, not just Swissair.

The Antelope Valley already has a major aircraft production installation in Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale and the premier flight test center in Edwards Air Force Base. Site 9 shares runways and taxiways with Plant 42.

Palmdale officials met with an SR Technics representative last month and then again in early November. The second meeting, held at Air Force Plant 42, included Lon Hatamiya, secretary of the state Trade and Commerce Agency; representatives of the Los Angeles World Airports, Los Angeles' airports department; representatives of the Antelope Valley Aerospace Alliance, a group of the region's aerospace companies; Lt. Col. Bob Catlin, commander of Plant 42; and Palmdale representatives, including Mayor Jim Ledford.

Potential incentives for SR Technics include the Antelope Valley's enterprise zone status, which offers tax credits on wages and equipment purchases; possible access to Northrop Grumman's state-of-the-art aircraft painting facility; and possible job-training courses through Antelope Valley College.

The company is also interested in the site being annexed into the city of Palmdale. That would save the company a 6.5 percent utility surcharge charged by Los Angeles County.

The city of Palmdale is working with Los Angeles World Airports on the annexation of Site 9, located near 30th Street East and Avenue P.

Boeing is trying to sell Site 9 as part of a consolidation plan announced several months ago. The site has more than 1.3 million square feet in office and manufacturing space, including two high-bay hangars.

The land for Site 9 is actually owned by Los Angeles World Airports. The land, approximately 150 acres, is leased to Boeing, which owns the buildings at the site.

The lease runs through 2021.