https://aviationweek.com/themes/custom/particle/dist/app-drupal/assets/awn-logo.svg
Skip to main content
  • Market Sector
    • Aerospace
    • Air Transport
    • MRO
    • Defense and Space
    • Business Aviation
  • Markets
    • Aerospace
      • Aircraft & Propulsion
      • Connected Aerospace
      • Emerging Technologies
      • Manufacturing & Supply Chain
      • Unmanned & Urban Aviation
      • Commercial Space
      • Program Management
      • Sustainability
    • Air Transport
      • Aircraft & Propulsion
      • Interiors & Connectivity
      • Airports & Routes
      • Airlines & Lessors
      • Safety, Ops & Regulation
      • Maintenance & Training
      • Sustainability
    • MRO
      • Aircraft & Propulsion
      • Interiors & Connectivity
      • Emerging Technologies
      • Supply Chain
      • Safety, Ops & Regulation
      • Workforce & Training
      • Sustainability
    • Defense and Space
      • Aircraft & Propulsion
      • Sensors & Electronic Warfare
      • Missile Defense & Weapons
      • Supply Chain
      • Budget, Policy & Operations
      • Space
      • Sustainability
    • Business Aviation
      • Aircraft & Propulsion
      • Interiors & Connectivity
      • Airports, FBOs & Suppliers
      • Flight Deck
      • Safety, Ops & Regulation
      • Maintenance & Training
      • Sustainability
  • Marketplace
  • Services
    • Services
      • Advertising
      • Marketing Services
      • Fleet, Data & APIs
      • Research & Consulting
      • Network and Route Planning
      • Marketplace
  • Store
    • Market Sector

      • Aerospace
      • Air Transport
      • MRO
      • Defense and Space
      • Business Aviation
    • Type View All Products
      • Intelligence Bundles
        • AWIN - Premium
        • AWIN - Aerospace and Defense
        • AWIN - Business Aviation
        • AWIN - Commercial Aviation
      • Market Briefings
        • Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
        • Aviation Daily
        • SpeedNews
        • The Weekly of Business Aviation
      • Directories
        • Air Charter Guide
        • Aviation Week Marketplace
        • Route Exchange
        • The Engine Yearbook
      • Data Services
        • AC-U-KWIK
        • Aircraft Bluebook
        • Airportdata.com
        • Airport Strategy and Marketing (ASM)
        • CAPA – Centre for Aviation
        • Fleet Discovery Civil
        • Fleet Discovery Military
        • Fleet & MRO Forecast
        • MRO Prospector
      • Publications
        • Air Transport World
        • Aviation Week & Space Technology
        • Aviation Week & Space Technology - Inside MRO
        • Business & Commercial Aviation
        • CAPA - Airline Leader
        • Routes magazine
        • ShowNews
      • Resources
        • Downloadable Reports
  • Events
    • Events View All Events
      • MRO
        • MRO Americas
        • MRO Asia
        • MRO Baltics, Eastern Europe and Russia (BEER)
        • MRO Europe
        • MRO Latin America
        • MRO Middle East
        • MRO Transatlantic
        • Military Aviation Logistics and Maintenance Symposium (MALMS)
      • Commercial Aviation
        • Aero-Engines Americas
        • Aero-Engines Asia
        • Aero-Engines Europe
        • Commercial Aviation Industry Suppliers Conference (ASC)
        • Commercial Aviation Industry Suppliers Conference - Europe (ACE)
        • Engine Leasing, Trading & Finance
      • Aerospace and Defense
        • A&D Mergers and Acquisitions Conference (ADMA)
        • Aerospace Manufacturing Conference (AMC)
        • Aerospace Raw Materials & Manufacturers Supply Chain Conference (RMC)
        • DefenseChain Conference (DCPE)
      • Air Transport
        • CAPA Australia Pacific Aviation Summit
        • CAPA Latin America Aviation & LCCs Summit
        • CAPA Live
        • Routes Americas 2021
        • Routes Asia 2021
        • Routes Europe 2021
        • Routes Reconnected
        • TakeOff North America 2020
        • World Aviation Outlook Summit 2020
        • World Routes 2021
      • Business Aviation
        • Business Aviation Week 2020
        • Business & General Aviation Conference (BGA)
      • Awards
        • 20 Twenties
        • Aviation Week Laureates Awards
        • Program Excellence Awards and Banquet
    • Webinars
      • Upcoming Webinars
  • About
    • About Aviation Week Network
      • Our Story
      • Content and Data Team
      • Aviation Week & Space Technology 100-Year
    • Contact Us
      • Subscriber Services
      • Advertising, Marketing Services & List Rentals
      • Content Sales
      • Events
      • PR & Communications
      • Content Licensing and Reprints
      • FAQ
  • Log In
  • Register
  • My Account
    • Profile
    • Sign Out
  • AWIN Access
  • My cart
  1. Back to MRO

Share

Rock Star Blends Flying And MRO At Cardiff Aviation

Lee Ann Shay

Bruce Dickinson

Cardiff Aviation

Bruce Dickinson combines his passion for aviation and music as chairman of Cardiff Aviation and lead vocalist for Iron Maiden. He plans to fly the band in a Boeing 747 during its next tour—but beforehand, he's spending time in this 747 simulator to get his type rating.  

Maintenance Hangar

Cardiff Aviation

Inside one of Cardiff Aviation's hangar at St. Athan-Cardiff Airport Aerospace Enterprise Zone in South Wales, U.K. It operates 132,000 sq. ft. of hangar and workshop space at the former RAF maintenance base.

Engine Swap

Cardiff Aviation

Engineers removing an engine at Cardiff Aviation’s maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility.

Precision Scanning Equipment

Cardiff Aviation

Cardiff Aviation’s high-precision 3-D scanning equipment is used for aircraft components. The company recently completed audits for obtaining European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Part 21 manufacturing approval.

Engineering Services

Cardiff Aviation

The MRO provider incorporates a variety of engineering and machining facilities. 

Paint Expansion?

Cardiff Aviation

Cardiff Aviation’s paint workshop is dedicated to components, but Bruce Dickinson says the company is talking to an investor who is interested in building a paint hangar.

Airline Operations

Cardiff Aviation

A Boeing 737, the first aircraft for Cardiff Aviation’s ACMI airline. Its call sign is Maiden-001, an homage to Iron Maiden.

Simulators

Cardiff Aviation

Cardiff Aviation’s training center operates three simulators: two 747-400 simulators and a Sikorsky S-61 helicopter simulator. The S-61 sim is one of only two in Europe.

Heavy Metal

Cardiff Aviation

Maiden-001 inside Cardiff Aviation’s MRO facility at St. Athan.

Simulator With Soul

Cardiff Aviation

One of the 747-400 simulators, with promotional branding for Iron Maiden's new album, The Book of Souls.

Rocking In Air

Cardiff Aviation

A close-up of the cockpit of Maiden-001 prior to a promotional flight/listening party for Iron Maiden’s album, The Book of Souls.

Previous
Next

South Wales, U.K.-based Cardiff Aviation launched three years ago with maintenance and training services. This year, it added an aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance (ACMI) airline. Next up: launching Air Djibouti and maybe building a paint hangar.

Read more about Dickinson and Cardiff Aviation's entrepreneurial approach:

Bruce Dickinson Blends Airline, MRO and Heavy Metal 
Lee Ann Shay

As executive editor of MRO and business aviation, Lee Ann Shay directs Aviation Week's coverage of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), including Inside MRO, and business aviation, including BCA.

Related Content

MRO
5 Surprising Facts About Aircraft Hangars
MRO
Safety Tips for Aircraft Hangars

Follow us on

Markets

  • Aerospace
  • Air Transport
  • MRO
  • Defense and Space
  • Business Aviation

Products

  • AWIN Intelligence Bundles
  • Market Briefings
  • Publications
  • Data Services
  • Directories
  • Resources

Contact Us

  • Subscriber Services
  • Advertising, Marketing Services & List Rentals
  • Content Sales
  • Events
  • PR & Communications
  • Content Licensing and Reprints
  • FAQ

Other Resources

  • Aviation Week Marketplace
  • Knowledge Center
  • Newsletters
  • ShowNews
Copyright © 2021. All rights reserved. Informa Markets, a trading division of Informa PLC.
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use