A South Wales aircraft maintenance and training company, chaired by Iron Maiden lead singer Bruce Dickinson, has confirmed major expansion plans.
Caerdav, formerly known as Cardiff Aviation has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Dubai-based MOBH Group, which it said will see millions of pounds pumped into developing new training and maintenance facilities.
Under the MoU, Caerdav will create a centre of excellence for commercial aviation training at Bro Tathan, the new business park-owned by the Welsh Government at St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan – providing complete training for pilots and cabin crew.
In addition to the training centre, the investment will also fund the construction of a new aircraft paint hangar, enabling Caerdav to provide full paint services for aircraft up to the size of a Boeing 767 – complementing the engineering works the company already carries out for major airlines.
Caerdav chief executive Joachim Jones, said: “With MOBH Group’s backing, we aim to create Europe’s most advanced flight training centre, while expanding our outstanding independent aircraft maintenance operations.
"This is a hugely exciting opportunity for growth and underlines how our team’s commitment and hard work has led to this being the best year in the company’s history – with 2020 now looking even brighter.”
On the firm's recent name change Mr Dickinson said: "It was a real moment of pride to found the business in 2012, and I can’t thank our engineers and instructors enough for their incredible work and commitment to date.
"Together with our management team, they make Caerdav a truly independent centre of excellence for aviation engineering and training.”
In its financial year to the end of September, 2018, the business (then Cardiff Aviation) posted revenues of £1.9m and pre-tax losses of £2.1m.
