Defence Minister Dunne visits Vector Aerospace UK
Above: (left to right) Adrian Johnson, director Engine Services UK, Vector Aerospace; Philip Dunne, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology; Michael Tyrrell, managing director, Vector Aerospace UK.
The Minister, who was accompanied by Caroline Dinenage, MP for Gosport, Stubbington, Lee-on-Solent and Hill Head, was given a behind the scenes look at the highly skilled work that is carried out keeping the MoD's fleet of Chinook, Lynx and Sea King helicopters up to operational standard.
The Minister also toured the aero engines repair shop, which has diversified into the civil fixed wing engines market. The Fleetlands facility, which was established in WW2, employs over 1,000 people and is one of the largest employers in the Gosport area. The site has a long tradition as a centre of excellence for MRO, including a flourishing apprenticeship scheme.
"Helicopters are an essential capability for all three services, and high-quality maintenance is essential to ensure that our fleets are ready to deploy where they are needed in support of operations", said Mr Dunne. "Sites like Fleetlands have a huge role to play in defence, and I thank the workforce here for their help in ensuring British troops have the top-class equipment they need".
Michael Tyrrell, managing director for Vector Aerospace UK, said: "We are delighted that the Minister was able to see at first hand the skills and commitment that go into supporting the MoD's rotary wing fleet. While our longstanding position as a key supplier to MoD will continue to be of great importance, we are also developing civil market applications for our skills and experience, capitalising on the flexibility of the workforce here at Fleetlands."
