Vectored to high standards

For a site which started off in fixed-wing maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), Fleetlands is lacking one perhaps surprising thing - a runway.

But it has seven helipads. This fact stems from its history as a naval aircraft repair station on the shores of Portsmouth harbour. Although the old HMS Daedalus, with its long runways, is only a couple of miles away on the Solent, it was more convenient for Fleetlands to be on the shores of the harbour, because the old naval aircraft, with their folding wings, were brought from the carriers by smaller vessels.

It’s no surprise therefore that the site has concentrated on rotary wing maintenance. But recent ownership changes have seen it become part of a worldwide MRO company with much wider interests, to which Fleetlands adds a great and in some ways, unique capability.

In 1940, it was established as a Royal Naval Air Yard, but later control was transferred to the Defence Aviation Repair Agency and it became DARA Fleetlands which maintained all helicopters in the UK Armed Forces. In February 2008, it was acquired by Vector Aerospace.

In November 2017, StandardAero Aviation Holdings acquired Vector Aerospace from Airbus and of course Fleetlands came with it as a highly important element. At that time, combined annual revenue was about US $3 billion and now the work force is about 6,000 people in 38 locations worldwide. A year ago, StandardAero CEO, Russell Ford, said: “Our combined organisations are better positioned to provide the industry with more global services, expanded MRO facilities and operational benefits to deliver faster, higher-quality solutions to our combined customers worldwide.”

Repair rather than replace

Aerospace Manufacturing recently visited the Fleetlands site and spoke to Nigel Amphlett, Government business executive at the company. He says that StandardAero worked mainly on engines and the Vector acquisition got them into helicopter airframes. He says that it is one of the world’s biggest MRO companies.

“Our philosophy is repair rather than replace. It’s our USP.” The important factors are time, cost and quality and of course some parts have to be ‘fabricated.’ The company avoids use of the word ‘manufacture’ because of the close relationship with OEMs.

The OEMs would quite often like to sell new parts, but Standard/Fleetlands wants to emphasise teamwork rather than competition with them since it needs approvals and information to conduct its business. He describes the relationship with the OEMs as “dynamic,” and says “We work hard on our relationship with them.”

A major element of its work is maintaining the RAF’s Chinook fleet and the company can fabricate over 1,500 items for the airframe. Aerospace Manufacturing was shown this work being done by Chinook support manager, Mike Ault. It gave the feeling that they could almost build a Chinook from scratch if need be. Extensive metalworking and heat treatment facilities were evident and many of the highly-skilled workers have been there for years.

Standard/Fleetlands runs an apprenticeship scheme and Amphlett says that the company is well supported by local education and the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). There is a focus on science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) training and the company wants to encourage more women and service leavers to join its ranks.

Positioned on the south coast of Hampshire, it has access to a large pool of aerospace workers and engages in a lot of continuation training. The company also has a policy of multi-skilling people, including hand skills which still have a lot of relevance in the work that it does.

StandardAero’s purchase of Vector has expanded its Pratt & Whitney Canada capabilities, particularly on the PT6 and PW100 turboprop engines and has improved its penetration of the civilian and military helicopter engine MRO market, including on the M250, PT6T, Arriel 1 and 2, T58/CT58 and T700/CT7 engines.

Acquired and inspired

At the acquisition, Ford went on to say: “Vector also brings along new helicopter airframe and component service/support aligned with major OEMs (such as) Boeing, Sikorsky, Airbus Helicopters and Bell Helicopter.” Advantages will include better operational efficiency, turn times, and expanded research and development.

In addition to Fleetlands in Gosport, Vector Aerospace also has UK facilities in Farnborough and Almondbank, Perth in Scotland. Capabilities also include refinish/paint, composites, plating, non-destructive testing.

In repair services, capabilities include: high tolerance rotor blade grind and balance; TIG and MIG welding (steel, nickel alloy, mag alloy and titanium); precise co-ordinate measuring; chemical and abrasive cleaning; Rockwell hardness testing; high volume NDT Nadcap accreditation (fluorescent penetrant, magnetic particle and eddy current inspections).

Both StandardAero and Vector have histories which go back many years. Founded in 1911, StandardAero is set to become the world aerospace industry’s largest MRO provider. Now partnered with and owned by Veritas Capital, StandardAero offers nose-to-tail services for general aviation, commercial and military customers all over the world.

Vector’s heritage dates back about 70 years. Formed in 1998, its history goes back to the 1930s and 40s. In North America, its roots lie in Okanagan Helicopters formed in British Columbia in 1947 and which eventually became CHC Helicopters some 40 years later.

But Amphlett tells Aerospace Manufacturing that the Vector name will disappear, giving way to StandardAero. As for the Fleetlands site, there is room for expansion and increasing levels of work.

“You can play lots of tunes on the site,” he concludes. There are hangars which could be used and new buildings could be put up. So, a company which was around almost at the start of aviation is continuing to define its future.

www.vectoraerospace.com