Jacksonville’s push to become an aerospace manufacturing hub took a concrete step forward as Otto Aerospace filed a preapplication for an environmental resource permit to build its new production facility and headquarters at Cecil Airport.
The Aug. 21, 2026 filing with the St. Johns River Water Management District covers construction of a two‑building campus — including a manufacturing plant, showroom, and support facilities — on an 80‑acre site near Hangar 825, according to preapplication materials reviewed by local outlets.
Project scale and incentives
Otto’s Jacksonville investment is valued at more than $430 million, with the company set to receive $34.9 million in Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA) incentives plus a $20 million city REV grant contingent on meeting job and investment milestones.
The project is expected to create over 400 high‑paying jobs by 2031, with an average wage around $90,000, and could grow to 1,200 jobs by 2040 as production ramps up, per earlier project disclosures.
From announcement to construction prep
The facility traces back to a June 2025 announcement that Otto would relocate its headquarters from Texas and manufacture its Phantom 3500 super‑midsize business jet at Cecil.
Since then, the project has moved through visible on‑the‑ground steps:
- March 2026: The city issued a $500,000 interior demolition permit for Hangar 825 to prepare the space for Otto’s operations.
- April 2026: JAA outlined an aerospace hub vision for Cecil anchored by Otto, including a proposed taxiway extension to support manufacturing and flight operations.
- May 2026: The JAA board reviewed campus renderings showing two new buildings plus hangars and a showroom.
- August 2026: The environmental permit preapplication signals that construction is approaching, not just planning.
The aircraft behind the factory
Otto’s Phantom 3500 is a clean‑sheet, super‑midsize business jet with a windowless cabin and a teardrop‑shaped fuselage designed to cut fuel burn by about 60% compared with similarly sized jets.
In September–October 2025, fractional jet operator Flexjet placed a firm order for 300 Phantom 3500s, valued at roughly $5.85 billion based on list prices, with first deliveries expected in 2030 and first flight targeted for 2027.
Florida is also building the infrastructure to test the next generation of electric aircraft. At the SunTrax campus near Orlando, contractors are constructing the nation’s first dedicated Advanced Air Mobility test track. A state‑backed proving ground for eVTOL “flying taxis” and the systems that will support an emerging aerial highway network.
Why it matters
Beyond jobs and investment, the project positions Cecil Airport as a focal point for advanced aerospace activity in Northeast Florida, alongside other emerging tenants such as Hermeus.
For construction and infrastructure audiences, the Otto campus is a first‑of‑its‑kind manufacturing build in Jacksonville — a tangible anchor for the city’s broader aerospace and advanced mobility ambitions.
Project fact sheet: Otto Aerospace at Cecil Airport
- Project: Otto Aerospace manufacturing facility and headquarters
- Location: Cecil Airport (Jacksonville), Florida — 80‑acre site near Hangar 825
- Client/developer: Otto Aerospace
- Public partners: Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA); City of Jacksonville
- Investment: $430 million+
- Incentives: $34.9 million in JAA incentives; $20 million city REV grant (performance‑based)
- Jobs: 400+ high‑paying jobs by 2031 (avg. $90k); potential 1,200 jobs by 2040
- Facility scope: Two‑building campus with manufacturing plant, showroom, hangars, and support facilities
- Aircraft: Phantom 3500 super‑midsize business jet (windowless cabin; ~60% fuel‑burn reduction vs. peers)
- Key orders: 300‑aircraft firm order from Flexjet, valued at $5.85 billion; first flight 2027, first deliveries 2030
Recent milestones:
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- June 2025: Headquarters and manufacturing announcement
- March 2026: $500k interior demolition permit issued for Hangar 825
- April–May 2026: Aerospace hub vision and campus renderings presented to JAA
- Aug. 21, 2026: Environmental resource permit preapplication filed
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