PremiAir and Hawker Beechcraft celebrate opening of new centre of excellence for Beechcraft MRO

Tuesday 28th April, 2009

On 28 April, PremiAir officially inaugurated its newest facility at Oxford Airport, UK – a new fixed-wing maintenance centre for the Hawker Beechcraft family.

It marked the occasion with an open house for some 90 guests - UK Beechcraft operators, customers, suppliers and operators, hosted by PremiAir Group Managing Director David McRobert and Director of Engineering and Maintenance, Barry Stone. Hawker Beechcraft was represented by Vice President Product Support, Greg Graber; Vice President International ASCs, Steve Porte; Divisional Vice President, International Field Operations, Peter Hall and Model Director Premier 1/1A, John Szelenyi.

The fixed wing maintenance operation completed its move from Blackbushe to the newly refurbished 20,000 sq ft hangar at Oxford Airport in October 2008. Approved for EASA Part 145 base maintenance, the hangar is now fully functioning as the new home of PremiAir’s fixed wing business and the hangar is full with work. The new facility is now home to 20 personnel, including three newly appointed engineers and PremiAir expects to add more positions in the near future.

Hangar No 1, formerly operated by CSE Aviation, has been completely refurbished to PremiAir’s exact specifications, fitted with bespoke electrics, lighting, heating and modern insulation. Representing a £1 million investment, the facility includes new workshops, customer reception areas, office space and dedicated car parking.

“We are delighted with our new Oxford Airport facilities, where fixed-wing engineering on Hawker Beechcraft products will be our core business,” said David McRobert, PremiAir Group Managing Director. “Our company’s relationship with Hawker Beechcraft spans 25 years and we’re very proud to be associated with the manufacturer and be part of their worldwide Authorised Service Centre network.”

Earlier this year, PremiAir’s Oxford base received an additional boost when it was granted Authorised Dealer status for the Raisbeck range of performance-enhancing aerodynamic upgrades which are increasingly popular with King Air operators around the world.

Editor’s Notes:

Established 30 years ago, PremiAir is the UK’s largest Executive Helicopter operating and charter company. It has bases at Blackbushe, Oxford and Farnborough Airports in the UK

PremiAir is privately owned by the von Essen Group and is a sister company of von Essen Hotels, which owns and operates 28 luxury hotels throughout the UK and Europe.

PremiAir also manages and operates The London Heliport at Battersea, which remains the UK capital’s only commercial heliport. New ultra modern business aviation terminal facilities will be opening late 2009 connected to a new luxury 5 star hotel development.

PremiAir flies approximately 4,000 charter hours a year with its modern fleet of Sikorsky 76s and Eurocopter Twin Squirrels. It has 18 Executive Helicopters on management programmes; providing turnkey services to their owners.

PremiAir’s maintenance business is also an FAA, EASA, CAA Part 145-approved organization; it is a Sikorsky Service Centre for the S76 (all models), a Bell Customer Service Facility for Bell 222, 230 and 430 and is a Hawker Beechcraft Authorised Service Centre for their Beechcraft Model range. PremiAir is also one of the largest Eurocopter maintenance centres in Europe supporting EC155, AS365 Dauphin and AS355 Twin Squirrel. The company also provides for support services on the AgustaWestland 109 model range and is a Pratt & Whitney Canada recognised maintenance facility and is a distributor for Honeywell, Rockwell Collins and numerous other equipment vendors.

PremiAir boasts Part 21J and G design and manufacturer approvals for aircraft modifications. With a large and experienced design office team, the company provides full refurbishment and upgrade services on most executive helicopter types and a wide range of fixed wing aircraft, including the full Beechcraft model range. Fixed wing aircraft are maintained at a new facility at Oxford Airport, which opened in October last year.

PremiAir is a leading player in the provision of pilots to the UK Police Forces with contracts with UK / Ireland Police Air Support units.

PremiAir Global is the company’s aircraft sales and brokerage business. It specialises in acquiring and selling new and used helicopters and business jets and is based at Farnborough Airport, UK.

Buying Business Travel Diamond Award Winner 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Best Executive Aviation Provider. Luxury Travel Winner Best Private Charter Company 2008.