Univeral Asset Management, a Memphis based company that disassembles airplanes in Walnut Ridge will be moving part of it’s operation to a 453,000 Sq. ft. facility in Tupelo Mississippi.
UAM deals with both wide-body and narrow-body aircraft. The reason for the move is due to the fact that the current facility at the Walnut Ridge Airport can no longer deal with the number of large aircraft like the 747 and 767.
Concerns by engineers at that the 80 year old runways are not thick enough and are starting to show cracks from the weight. UAM will also close warehouses located at both Pocahontas and Walnut Ridge, moving them to the Mississippi facility.
Although city leaders are stating that the entire company is not leaving at this time, it is unclear how many jobs will be effected by the relocation. The Mississippi location is scheduled to open later this month.