Prestwick Airport lands Red Arrows deal as hundreds of jobs set for Ayrshire base
Prestwick Airport was the "number one choice" to host the final assembly line for the potential replacement of the Hawk fighter jet used by the Red Arrows.
Aeralis, one of the companies vying for the contract to replace the Hawk which will be phased out of service by 2030, chose Prestwick Airport out of 67 potential sites.
More than 200 jobs could be coming to the airport to assemble the new military jets if Aeralis get the go ahead from the UK Government.
If successful, different parts of the jets will be built across multiple sites in England before coming to Prestwick for final assembly.
Aeralis' proposition draws on existing, world-leading UK manufacturing through a core consortium of seven aerospace and defence companies, supported by over 40 small and medium-sized enterprises.
The firm will now work with Prestwick Airport and local stakeholders to refine the details for the site, as well as establishing relationships with local technology, infrastructure and supply chain partners.
Neil Bennett, chief operating officer, described Aeralis as "effectively Airbus but for a small military jet".
Speaking to Ayrshire Live, he said: "Prestwick was the number one choice. Firstly, it's got scale. Secondly, it's got two runways - a 2,000m runway and a 3,000m runway.
"It has airspace above and you are out over the sea immediately which is good for a new aircraft facility - every aircraft will have to have a performance acceptance test.
"The workforce in this area, I personally think is second to none. There must be 50 or so companies around Prestwick Airport and we will do business with them.
"Together, with Ayrshire College, we should be able to pull a good workforce together here to do the final assembly of the aircraft.
"Notwithstanding that, I think that the Prestwick Airport strategy, the welcoming we received when we first arrived and the openness of discussion that we've had is second to none.
"This industry is full of barriers to entry for a start-up organisation so when you come across a positive potential arrangement you go with it.
"We had a mechanism to score various features, Prestwick came out top. Intuitively, myself and my colleagues felt this was the right one."
Dr Willie Mackie, interim chairman of Prestwick Airport, said: "This is a really exciting announcement that Prestwick has been selected out of 67 potential locations to locate this final assembly for what will be the replacement for the Red Arrows.
"That will bring further jobs in terms of the aerospace sector to build on what's already a really core strength of the airport and surrounding businesses.
"It would also deliver what I would describe a legacy investment and this could trail on for many years, decades in fact as the planes are developed and then the maintenance and repair operation.
"That is exciting. The Aeralis opportunity overlays a lot of the capability that we have managed to build here. We think Prestwick is the right place with the right skill set."
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The Herald Scotland
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- The Herald Scotland
Prestwick Airport and Ferguson Marine causes for celebration
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- North Wales Chronicle
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Rhyl Journal
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- Rhyl Journal
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