Otto Aerospace seeks environmental permit for move to Jacksonville (Courtesy of the Jacksonville Daily Record) — Texas-based aircraft manufacturer Otto Aerospace continues to lay groundwork for its planned move to Jacksonville, filing a preapplication Aug. 21 for its proposed manufacturing facility and headquarters at Cecil Field.
The St. Johns River Water Management District is reviewing an environmental resource permit preapplication from Otto for what is described as “construction of a new manufacturing facility with associated infrastructure” at Cecil Airport. Work includes extension of Taxilane E.
“This facility will serve as the new headquarters for Otto Aerospace LLC,” the preapplication reads.
Dallas-based Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. is listed as the applicant. An ERP regulates construction and development to prevent flooding, protect water quality and preserve wetlands.
The preapplication comes about five months after the city of Jacksonville issued a permit to Otto in March 2026 for interior demolition of Hangar 825 at 6105 Flightline Road at a project cost of $500,000.
Otto’s plans
Also that month, the Daily Record reported that the city was reviewing a permit application for Otto to renovate Hangar 825 at a project cost of $12.1 million.
The Jacksonville Aviation Authority owns the property.
The conversion permit application said the work would convert the space into an aircraft research and development facility.
“The mixed occupancy facility provides industrial/storage spaces for aircraft and office spaces for engineering & general business,” it said.
Balfour Beatty Construction LLC is the contractor for the conversion of Hangar 825 at 6105 Flightline Road in West Jacksonville.
Otto, based in Fort Worth, Texas, announced in June 2025 it would establish a manufacturing and production facility to build its new business jet at Cecil Airport. The company was known then as Otto Aviation but changed its name in September 2025.
Otto is developing the Phantom 3500 that completed preliminary design review in February 2026. The aircraft features a laminar flow design, with a fuselage shaped somewhat like a football. The company says the design reduces drag by 35% and fuel usage by more than 60% compared with traditional business jets.
Otto says it expects the first flight of the jet in 2027.
The company said it would build more than 600,000 square feet of office and manufacturing space by Jan. 1, 2032. Plans called for creation of at least 400 jobs at an average $90,000 salary by the end of 2031, with possible expansions that would increase the workforce to 1,200 by 2040.
Otto incentives
In May 2025, the JAA board approved an incentives package for Otto that comprised:
• A $22.5 million investment by JAA for site preparation and design/construction to extend taxiway E-1 to the property where Otto plans to build its facility.
• Abatements on rent and common area maintenance fees on Hangar 825, worth $3.73 million.
• Rent credits on Hangar 825, worth $1.5 million.
In June 2025, Jacksonville City Council approved a $20 million incentive package for the aircraft company. The 18-0 vote constituted final action on a 20-year, 75% Recapture Enhanced Value Grant. A REV grant is a refund on ad valorem tax revenue generated by a new development or property enhancement.
On May 4, Otto announced the appointment of Scott Drennan as CEO, succeeding company founder Paul Touw.
Photo courtesy of OTTO Aerospace