Iron Maiden Star Plans 1,500 Skilled Jobs for St Athan

LEAD singer with rock band Iron Maiden, Bruce Dickinson, has confirmed a multi-million-pound aviation project in South Wales which could create as many as 1,500 high-skill jobs over the next two years.

Through his company Cardiff Aviation a major commercial airline maintenance repair and overhaul operation at St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan is being established.

The company completed the deal with the Welsh Government at 5:30am yesterday. The Government is supporting the start-up venture, not through direct financial assistance, but with a commitment to provide skills and training support.

It will benefit from being in one of the Welsh Government's enterprise zones, the one identified for aviation. The precise support is currently subject to consultation.

Cardiff Aviation has taken a lease on the Welsh Government owned 132,000 sq ft Twin Peaks hangar at St Athan.

Mr Dickinson and his backers only considered St Athan for the investment.

The successful aviation entrepreneur and rock star said: "We're coming into this enterprise with the knowledge that we'll also be bringing business to South Wales. A cautious projection is that we'd expect to create up to a thousand jobs within 18 months based on the level of interest and commitment from aircraft manufacturers and operators.

The number of jobs will obviously depend on the level of success we have.

"I would say that we could create though a 1,500 maximum in two years, and 250 in six to 12 months. That figure could ramp up rapidly.

"South Wales has long had an association with the aircraft industry and I am delighted that I am able to have a small part in the continuation of that tradition."

The business will be housed in the same hangars where maintenance work on RAF VC10 aircraft was carried out until February this year when the operation ceased with the loss of some 300 jobs.

Mr Dickinson said he hoped to employ people made redundant from that operation as well as other jobless skilled workers in the area. Young people would be taken on as apprentices.

He said: "This will be an active, hothouse aviation site for Wales, extending out to other areas."

He accepted that the operation would probably not make money in its first year.

But he said they already had "one or two" contracts in place and he would be in London today hoping to attract more customers with his partners, GJD Aerotech.

Standing in one of the hangars, Mr Dickinson said: "The thing is that you can't get contracts until you have a base to work from.

"We will be taking the keys here on July 1 and by then we will be well on the way to getting more contracts."

He said the Welsh Government had been helpful, but had not offered any money or grants.

"The Welsh Government has alway been very positive and answered our questions by saying: 'Yes, we can.' "But they have not thrown money at this, nor should they have. There was no grant, no sugar-coated pill.

"Now we have got these facilities we can talk about access to the enterprise zone."

He said he had been attracted to South Wales by the 132,000 sq ft of space at the Twin Peaks hangars, and the skilled workforce available.

The base would undertake maintenance of airliners and other large aircraft for several airlines.

He was confident the business would grow strongly. He said: "Aircraft always require regular maintenance. There is a shortage of maintenance facilities in Europe and we are in the right place at the right time."

"We expect to announce the names of our first clients in May, and we're also currently dealing with expressions of interest from several more major and independent airlines."

As well as maintenance of airliners and other large aircraft for several major and independent airlines, Cardiff Aviation will have facilities to complete the full range of ancillary aircraft maintenance and training activities and has the expertise and approvals to certify aircraft from many jurisdictions, including the USA.

Business Minister Edwina Hart described it as strong vote of confidence in the Welsh Government's plans to develop a centre of aerospace excellence at St Athan. "I am particularly pleased to hear the company is keen to take on skilled mechanics previously employed by the Defence Support Group, create hundreds of highly skilled engineering jobs and also plans to establish an on-going apprenticeship programme as the business grows," she said.

"We have been working closely with Bruce Dickinson and Cardiff Aviation on this exciting project for some time and delighted it has come to fruition.

This is exactly the type of investment needed - bringing money into the local economy while also providing an international promotion for St Athan Aerospace Business Park and the aviation enterprise zone.

"We have a strong, dynamic aerospace sector in Wales and this investment will build upon the skilled workforce that already exists in the area, providing a range of career opportunities.

This type of flagship operation will provide a great start for the new aviation enterprise zone." Aviation expert Martin Evans said the jobs would be "highly paid and skilled". He added: "We are finding that, because we have this tradition of aircraft maintenance in SouthWales, we have the ability to turn out a steady supply of graduates and apprentices. These are jobs which are sustainable in awell-paid and growing industry. While these types of businesses can quickly move to other aerospace centres in the world, the more specialist you are the more likely it is that you can not only hang on to these type of projects, but expand on them." As well as providing maintenance for aircraft up to Boeing 767 size, the firm will offer training packages and technical support services. Mr Dickinson, who has flown his band in their "Ed Force One" Boeing 757 during an Iron Maiden world tour, said he was grateful to theWelsh Government for its support. He added: "We've been impressed by how pro-active they've been. They've really wanted to make this happen, and we've experienced a level of enthusiasm and drive that has been a delight to behold."

The 53-year-old songwriter also said the venture could provide a welcome boost to Cardiff Airport, which has recently seen visitor numbers drop and also drawn criticism from First Minister Carwyn Jones. Mr Dickinson said: "The added value we can bring to the package is, while the team is expert in the provision of technical services, we also have expertise in aircraft sourcing and leasing. "This is another key aspect to the deployment of a total aviation services package, hopefully including the development of new airline services for South Wales. "Cardiff Airport has tremendous potential to challenge the successful English regional airports." The Welsh Government said that St Athan had the potential to create up to 10,000 jobs by 2025. Its first tenant was announced in January, when classic aircraft firm Hunter Flying said it was signing a one-year lease on two hangars .

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