Six months after acquiring the former Monarch Aircraft Engineering hangar in Birmingham, STS Aviation has gained approval from the UK’s regulator at the site.
The CAA Part-145 approval will enable the 120,000 ft.2 facility to conduct base maintenance operations in England’s second city. Initially, this will encompass work on Airbus A320 family, A330 and Boeing 737NG and 757 aircraft.
Capabilities include aircraft modifications services, structural repairs, engine changes, A checks, C checks, lease transition and bridging checks. In the coming months, STS plans to add further certifications for aircraft types.
It also plans to grow its workforce, with some former Monarch Aircraft Engineering staff already returning to work at the facility. By the end of 2020, it is targeting up to 100 mechanics and engineers working at the hangar, with plans to more than double this number by the end of 2021 to surpass 250 people.
Last year saw U.S.-based STS Aviation expand in Europe, having previously operated component repair and aircraft interiors businesses in Shannon, Ireland. First, it acquired Newquay-based Apple Aviation, which has service offerings including base maintenance in September 2019.
This was shortly followed by the acquisition of the Birmingham hangar from administrator KPMG. The facility had sat vacant for nine months after the demise of Monarch Aircraft Engineering in January 2019. Its two base maintenance sites in the UK are in addition to a U.S. facility offering the services in Melbourne, Florida.
Mick Adams, who was appointed as vice president and CEO of STS Aviation Services and is overseeing its European operation, says the news is welcome against the backdrop of an industry dealing with the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic. He adds: “While our company's first priority right now is the safety and welfare of its people, we look forward to commencing operations as soon as possible and welcoming our growing global customer base to a truly remarkable facility.”
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