Otto Aerospace plans to begin construction in 2028 on a manufacturing facility at Cecil Airport in Jacksonville, Florida, for its Phantom 3500 business jet programme. The company is targeting aircraft manufacturing from the site around 2030, alongside certification and deliveries, as it advances a project tied to its move to Jacksonville and earlier decision to base Phantom 3500 production there.
Jacksonville Aviation Authority chief operating officer Tony Cugno outlined the timeline to a Jacksonville City Council committee on 27 August. The buildout is expected to cover more than 600,000 square feet of office and manufacturing space, with at least 400 jobs planned by the end of 2031 and total capital investment of about $430 million.
The programme remains in development, with first test flight planned for 2027 and production ramp-up scheduled later. Otto relocated its headquarters from Texas to the Jacksonville area before selecting the city as the production base for the Phantom 3500.