Avalon Aero

Avalon Aero is a UK aircraft maintenance company based at Cranfield Airport in Bedfordshire. It provides specialist maintenance to short haul and regional aircraft fleets and to privately owned aircraft. It is known for heavy checks, special mission work, conversions and bespoke maintenance.

The company began operations in 2000. It started by giving hands-on technical advice and maintenance support for the conversion, and later worldwide operation, of a specialist BAe 146 research aircraft. It is run as a small, family-run business and says it values being open, trustworthy and reliable. Its skill with the BAe 146 and Avro RJ types is known around the world.

Line and base maintenance is a main service. The new hangar can hold three regional jet sized aircraft at once. Work includes line maintenance, pre-flight and post-flight checks, aircraft storage, base maintenance up to C check level, pre-buy inspections and flying engineer support.

Avalon Aero also supports special mission and non-routine projects. It can give technical help during development, put customer requirements into practice, and consult on, make and fit scientific equipment such as window blank inlets and racks. For large conversions and research programmes, it works on VVIP conversions, atmospheric research and flying classroom style conversions, and concept demonstrator aircraft and prototype testing.

Non destructive testing is done in house. This lets the company react quickly to concerns, cut rectification time and reduce costs. Methods include eddy current, liquid penetrant, magnetic particle, radiographic and ultrasonic testing.

The company holds UK CAA Part 145, TCCA and FAA approvals and can certify base and line maintenance for listed aircraft types. Aircraft above 5,700 kg include the BAe 146 and Avro 146 RJ series, ATR 42-400 and 500, ATR 72, Beech 300 series and Saab 340. Smaller types include piston engine aeroplanes, the Grob 120TP and the Diamond DA 42. It has also gained approvals from other countries and registries.

Avalon Aero has relocated its hangar more than once, most recently to a refurbished and larger facility at Cranfield in the summer of 2023. It also set up a line and base operation at MOD Boscombe Down in support of the Empire Test Pilot School. Its stated aim is to keep the customer's part simple, take on as much engineering complexity as possible, and return aircraft on time and on budget.

Services

• Line maintenance
• Base maintenance up to C check
• Pre-buy inspections
• Aircraft storage
• Flying engineer support
• Special mission project maintenance
• VVIP conversions
• Research aircraft conversions
• Non destructive testing
• Prototype maintenance and testing