Irish aviation maintenance company Dublin Aerospace Group has established a new MRO centre called Exeter Aerospace in the former Flybe Maintenance Services base at Exeter Airport.

Exeter Aerospace has agreed a long-term lease of the hangars and workshops at the airport with Regional & City Airports Limited, owners of Exeter Airport.

Commenting on the launch, Dublin Aerospace Group’s chairman & CEO, Conor McCarthy said: “We are thrilled to have made Exeter the home of our first UK MRO (maintenance repair and overhaul) centre. The availability of the hangars and workshops there, combined with a phenomenal pool of local aviation and engineering talent, makes this a hugely attractive location for us”.

Dublin Aerospace’s Dublin facility specialises in Boeing 737, Airbus A320 and A330 families, and Exeter Aerospace plans to complement this product range by specialising in the Embraer 170/190 regional jets, Bombardier Dash 8/Q400 and ATR 72 turboprop families in Exeter. The group also has major activities in landing gear and APU overhaul.

100 vacant positions

Exeter Aerospace plans to have six aircraft overhaul bays over time, in addition to a range of support shops and test facilities. The company seeks to hire for 100 vacant positions immediately and expects this number to grow in line with the business as airlines and aircraft return to the skies over the coming months and years.

Over the next three to four years, the overall aim for Exeter Aerospace is to have over 250 aviation professionals working for the company and the business plans to establish strong aircraft engineering apprenticeship and aircraft mechanic traineeship programmes in partnership with the UK Government and Exeter College.

Dublin Aerospace recently announced it will also be hiring additional 29 apprentices from next month. “Dublin Aerospace Group has always been a huge supporter of apprenticeships and traineeships. While 2020 has been unprecedented in many ways, we believe that it is vital to keep our focus on the longer term”, said McCarthy.

“Our intention is to continue the great work that has been done locally to develop young talent for aerospace and thereby continue the proud aviation tradition here in the South of England.”

Candidates can apply for the vacant positions at www.dublin.aero/exeter-aerospace-careers.