Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group (Marshall ADG) has acquired Beechcraft's European maintenance, repair and overhaul business based at Broughton in the UK.

The site, known as Hawker Beechcraft Services Chester, has provided a full range of maintenance, modification, paint and upgrade services to owners of Hawker and Beechcraft aircraft for over 50 years. The business will now be known as Marshall Aviation Services.

"We are committed to a strategy of building our civil aerospace business," says Marshall ADG chief executive Steve Fitz-Gerald, "This is our second business aviation acquisition this year and demonstrates our ambition to grow and become a major player in the business and commercial aviation marketplace."

Marshall ADG says it will continue to provide a vital service and support role for Beechcraft throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa and has been granted authorised service centre status for Hawker business jets and King Air aircraft.

Christi Tannahill, senior vice president, Hawker Beechcraft global customer support, says of the acquisition: "We view the transition of our service facility to Marshall as a positive development for customers, employees and the aviation industry in the region.

"We are confident Hawker and Beechcraft owners and operators will continue to receive world-class support through this newly designated authorised service centre. We consider the employees to be one of the facility's greatest assets and are pleased the Marshall team plans to capitalise on those valuable resources."

Marshall Aviation Services also plans to broaden the range of aircraft types supported at Broughton, "and leverage its design and integration expertise to provide aircraft manufacturers, governments and specialist operators with innovative engineering and support solutions to satisfy special mission requirements".

Source: Flight International