Vector Re-opens Engine Facility At Fleetlands

July 14, 2008
The Fleetlands facility, which is now known as Vector Aerospace Helicopter Services Fleetlands, provides maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) for UK MoD’s fleets of Chinook (CH-47), Lynx and Sea King helicopters. It will also be the home of MRO support for Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp’s (P&WC) PW307A, PW308A and PW308C engines.

Within 12 weeks of acquiring the Defence Aviation and Repair Agency (DARA) Rotary Wing and Components businesses at Fleetlands, Gosport, Hampshire from the UK Ministry of Defence, Vector Aerospace has re-opened the engine test, overhaul and repair facility.

The Fleetlands facility, which is now known as Vector Aerospace Helicopter Services Fleetlands, provides maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) for UK MoD’s fleets of Chinook (CH-47), Lynx and Sea King helicopters. Recently the facility also took on MRO support for the Honeywell ALF 502 and LF 507 engines previously handled at Croydon by Vector Aerospace Engine Services UK Ltd. The Croydon facility continues to support the Rolls-Royce T56 and Conway engines of the RAF and other military customers.

Now Fleetlands will also be the home of MRO support for Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp’s (P&WC) PW307A, PW308A and PW308C engines. This arises from the appointment by P&WC of Vector subsidiary Atlantic Turbines International Inc as a Designated Overhaul Facility (DOF) for these engines. Atlantic Turbines has a long established relationship with P&WC and is already a DOF for PT6A, JT15D and PW100 engines.

The new contract is a notable achievement as the engines involved power some of the most highly regarded turbofan corporate aircraft: Dassault Aviation’s Falcon 7X corporate jet and 2000EX (powered respectively by PW307A and PW308C) and Hawker Beechcraft Corporation’s Hawker 4000 (PW308A). Commenting on this appointment, Brian Thompson, ATI’s President, said “We are well known for our industry-leading customer service orientation and we share with P&WC a service-first philosophy that is of great importance to aircraft owners, aircraft manufacturers and us. Pursuant to these new arrangements, we are pleased to continue our long and successful relationship with Pratt & Whitney Canada.”

Initially some 20 new jobs will result at Fleetlands and this number is expected to rise eventually to around 100. The first engine is scheduled to roll off the line in July 2009.

The Fleetlands facility will process engines from all over the world, including major markets such as North America, North Africa and Asia. A new test cell is being developed which will have sufficient thrust rating to accommodate larger engines than the PW307A, PW308A and PW308C, opening up the opportunity for expansion into new types.

Declan O’Shea, President and CEO of Vector, said, “We said when we acquired the DARA operations at Fleetlands and Almondbank that we would be looking to expand not only the volume of business going through them but also the scope. This exciting development is tangible evidence of our desire to grow and our willingness to invest. New jobs will be created at Fleetlands, the capability of the plant enhanced and important new business generated in the civil sector.”