Safe Air Appoints New General Manager

Blenheim-based aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul facility Safe Air has appointed career defence aviation specialist Heather Deacon as general manager.

Heather joined Safe Air in March 2006 as business development manager and was later appointed strategic business manager.

A Masters Graduate from Cranfield University, Heather was previously a commercial manager with Selex (Finnmeccanica) in the UK working on through-life support and performance based contracting. She began her career as a flight instructor, training British armed services pilots then moved into programme management and business development on numerous defence operational support contracts. She has more than 15 years’ senior level experience in the defence industry.

Heather’s mission will be to develop Safe Air’s competitive edge, building on its reputation as ‘first choice’ for aviation maintenance solutions.

“I am thrilled to have this opportunity,“ says Heather. ”An important aspect of my role besides reinforcing our core high quality workmanship is to add value through tailored services to meet our customers’ changing needs.”

Safe Air is a wholly owned subsidiary of Air New Zealand. The airline’s general manager, commercial and business development, Trevor Hughes, says Heather’s appointment will maximise Safe Air’s opportunities.

“Heather’s international industry experience will be a major asset in strengthening the business internally and in its market offering. A focus of her role will be to assess opportunities group wide, promote targeted solutions and deliver service excellence.” says Trevor.

Safe Air has a staff of 400 providing aviation maintenance and manufacturing services to a global base of customers. The company is a key supplier of essential repair and overhaul services to the Royal New Zealand Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force. It owns and operates the largest propeller overhaul facility in the Southern Hemisphere in Victoria, Australia, and is currently strengthening its propulsion capability around the Australasian region.

For more information on Safe Air visit www.safeair.co.nz.