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.

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:

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.

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