GCAT Flight Academy has acquired BAE Systems’ regional aircraft training business, which is located at Woodford in the northern UK city of Manchester, for an undisclosed sum.
The Manchester centre provides pilot, cabin crew and maintenance training on the Avro RJ, British Aerospace BAe 146, ATP and Jetstream 31/32. It is equipped with four full-flight simulators, comprising two for the BAe 146 and single ATP and Jetstream 31/32 devices.
A BAE Systems Regional Aircraft spokesman says: “From our point of view, this was a very good option for the business, to move it into a dedicated training company, where it can develop and prosper in the long-term.
“It wasn’t a business that we were looking to sell, but we had a number of approaches during the year. We investigated those and decided that it made sense for the long-term to sell the business.”
The spokesman says there were four bidders in the running for the training unit, but GCAT emerged as the winner and finalised the acquisition yesterday.
GCAT Flight Academy CEO Brian Simpson says: “We are very pleased that the Manchester business is joining the GCAT Flight Academy group. The business is highly complementary to our existing operations and will give customers of the four aircraft types access to a wider network of expertise and experience.
“BAE Systems Regional Aircraft can be assured we will provide them with long-term support for their aircraft fleets in a highly efficient and high quality manner.”
All of the staff employed at the training facility, which is located at the BAE Systems Woodford Aerodome, will be transferring to GCAT Flight Academy.
The deal marks GECAT’s first foray into maintenance training. Simpson says: “Following the addition of Oxford Aviation Training earlier this year, this is a further demonstration of the increasing range of our services, and our ambitious growth plans.”
GCAT Flight Academy was formed from GE Commercial Aviation Training, SAS Flight Academy and Oxford Aviation Training by majority shareholder STAR Capital Partners.
Following the acquisition of the Manchester training centre, the group will operate 56 simulators which it claims makes it the largest flight training organisation in Europe.
The Manchester facility takes GECAT to 10 training centres, located in Copenhagen, Hong Kong, London Heathrow and Gatwick, Manchester, Oslo, Oxford, Phoenix, Riga and Stockholm.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
